DUI arrests up in April

Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe said arrests for people accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs have increased during the month of April, although his department hasn’t stepped up their normal level of enforcement activity.

The increase in drunken driving, he said, is illustrated by three recent felony DUI arrests in Lincoln County.

Kristopher Lee Stacy, a 30-year-old Eureka man, was arrested April 3, 2016, by Officer Clint Heintz of the Eureka Police Department. Stacy was charged with a number of violations in addition to a fourth offense of driving under the influence, including driving while revoked, habitual offender operating a motor vehicle, operating a vehicle without liability insurance and open container.

Heintz said he observed Stacy driving north in a southbound lane and clocked him driving 34 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour zone. He then activated his lights and siren and attempted to pull over the vehicle driven by Stacy, who pulled over at a local gas station after again improperly crossing the double yellow line.

Heintz reported “the strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from inside the vehicle,” and asked Stacy if he had been drinking. Heintz said Stacy acknowledged he had been drinking but did not respond when asked if he had too much to drink that night. Heintz noted both of Stacy’s eyes appeared bloodshot.

According to Heintz’s affidavit, Stacy has two prior DUI convictions in Montana, as well as an additional felony DUI charge in Lincoln County without a disposition listed. Two DUI charges in North Dakota were also listed, although the dispositions of those cases were also not available.

Heintz made a second felony DUI arrest on April 8, 2016. He said he observed a vehicle without rear plates on Tobacco Road in Eureka at approximately 10:46 p.m. He turned on his lights and sirens, but the driver did not pull over. Instead, the car stalled out at the stop sign on Tobacco Road and Dewey Avenue. The driver restarted the vehicle, turned left, and continued on Dewey Avenue. Heintz ordered the driver to stop using his patrol car’s public address system.

The driver, 51-year-old Curtis Wolf of Eureka, exited the vehicle as soon as it was stopped. Heintz wrote in the affidavit he could smell the strong odor of alcohol and body odor as he approached and spoke with Wolf, whom he recognized and knew his drivers license had been revoked. He said Wolf admitted to having been drinking, but refused to submit to a breathalyzer test. Heintz also indicated Wolf has a history of driving under the influence.

“Wolf’s driving record shows that his drivers license status is revoked and he has six prior DUI convictions in Montana,” Heintz wrote in his report.

The third man charged with felony DUI this month was also arrested in Eureka, by Deputy Daniel Holskey of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

Richard Hall, a 38-year-old Eureka man, was arrested April 9, 2016, while traveling on U.S. Highway 93 at mile marker 183.

Holskey said he conducted a traffic stop of a red Chevrolet Suburban shortly after 10 p.m. due to an expired Montana license plate being displayed on the vehicle. Holskey wrote in his report he was familiar with Hall on the basis of several recent interactions.

“When I approached the vehicle I recognized the driver as Richard Grant Hall,” Holskey wrote. “Hall was sitting in the drivers seat and in control of the vehicle. Over the last couple months I have had several interactions with Hall and know that his driving privileges are suspended out of North Dakota as well as Minnesota.”

Holskey said he observed an open beer can in the center console of the vehicle and Hall indicated he had drank “a couple of beers earlier in the day.” Holskey conducted field sobriety tests and determined Hall was likely impaired. He took Hall into custody and collected a breath sample at the North Lincoln County Law Enforcement Complex. The test showed a blood alcohol concentration of .111. His driving record showed three previous convictions for driving under the influence.

Bowe said there is no way to know why incidents of intoxicated driving are up in Lincoln County so far this year, only that his deputies and officers with other local law enforcement agencies are working hard to keep the streets safe.

“Our guys and the guys from the other departments are always vigilant about looking for DUIs,” he said. “If you’re going to drink and drive, we’re going to catch you.”