DUI suspect winds up on trooper's doorstep

ZILLAH -- Here's a different type of house arrest -- a garage arrest, really.

A drunken driving suspect was quickly taken into custody Tuesday after pulling into a state trooper's garage shortly after the trooper encountered him driving slowly on a county road north of Zillah.

Trooper Trevor Downey, who has been out of the patrol academy for just six weeks, was headed home at the end of his shift when he pulled up behind a Dodge Avenger going 30 mph in a posted 50 mph zone, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the Washington State Patrol.

The driver soon turned into a private driveway on that same road and entered the garage on the property. Patrol officials did not disclose the name of the road for the trooper's safety.

When Downey contacted the driver to ask why he stopped there, the 31-year-old Buena suspect said he lived at the location. Downey corrected his misinformation and took him into custody.

The arrest could rank as one of the simplest of Downey's career.

"They don't get any easier than pulling into your garage for you," Lt. Jim Keightley said, adding that DUI suspects sometimes try to ditch troopers by pulling off the road as soon as they see a patrol car.

The suspect did not cause any problems during the arrest, Keightley said.

"He just knew the jig was up, I guess," Keightley said.

The suspect also was arrested for driving with an invalid license and has three previous DUI convictions.