A Washington state representative was pulled over Saturday for a suspected DUI in Thurston County.
State Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, was arraigned in Thurston District Court on Monday on ticket for DUI.
Court documents said Ormsby drove his Jeep Cherokee into a ditch that goes into the driveway of a home on 59th Avenue in Thurston County around 6:00 p.m. Officials said the car hit the ditch with such force that it made it go airborne and eventually landed on its hood. According to documents, the car landed just in front of the residence's front door.
When a Thurston County deputy went to speak with him, documents said the deputy smelled a heavy odor of alcohol in side the aid car where Ormsby was sitting. He told the deputy he made a turn when his wife sent him a text and he was distracted. He said it caused him swerve onto the should and crash into the ditch.
Court documents said the deputy asked him how much he had to drink and he said "two beers." Ormsby said he drank them at work and said that he works for the House of Representatives. He said they were working on the state budget and he had taken a break and drank somewhere near the old brewery.
The deputy said in court documents that Ormsby's eyes were bloodshot and droopy, his face was flushed and his speech was slurred.
Court documents said Ormsby later refused to do a breathalyzer test and said he would prefer a blood test. The deputy told him this was just a preliminary test and he did not have access to a blood test at this time. According to court documents, Ormsby later did the breathalyzer test and blew a .110.
Ormsby was the arrested for DUI and was transporter to the Thurston County Jail. During his arrest, Ormsby maintain that he only had two 12 ounce beers at the bar before going to work at 3:00 p.m.
He was then given a citation to appear in court Monday and was released to his wife.
KING 5 reached out to Ormsby's office Tuesday asking for clarification about drinking at work and they would not comment.
"I made a very poor choice this weekend, and want to apologize to my constituents, colleagues, friends and family," Ormsby said in a statement. "I have faith in our justice system, and will abide by whatever consequences I receive."
The lawmaker said right now he is focused on his duties with the Legislature.
Ormsby has worked in the state Legislature since 2003. He currently serves as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, which writes the House version of the state’s operating budget.