SEQUIM — Sequim City Councilman Dennis Smith was arrested Sunday for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol, city police confirmed Monday.
“He was involved in a minor traffic collision,” Sequim Police Chief Bill Dickinson said.
“The responding officer detected the odor of intoxicants and placed him under arrest.”
Smith, 68, was booked into the Clallam County jail at 9:57 p.m. Sunday and released Monday morning.
Police said the vehicle Smith was driving rear-ended another vehicle in the traffic circle at Port Williams Road and Sequim-Dungeness Way on Sunday afternoon.
Occupants in both vehicles declined medical assistance, Dickinson said.
A blood draw was taken, but the results of a toxicology report to determine Smith’s blood alcohol level were not available Monday.
Smith said he was “well over the legal limit” for alcohol, which is 0.08 percent in Washington.
After the arrest, the case was turned over to the State Patrol to remove any question about the councilman receiving preferential treatment, Dickinson said.
“Charges are pending upon return of the blood analysis from the toxicology lab as well as submission of [an] officer report to the prosecutor,” said Trooper Russ Winger, State Patrol spokesman. “I have no further details.”
When reached by phone Monday, Smith said he was traveling west on Port Williams Road when the woman in the vehicle ahead of him stopped before the traffic circle.
Smith had taken his eyes off the road to check for oncoming traffic on Sequim-Dungeness Way, he said.
“I turned back to keep going, and she’d stopped,” Smith said. “I rear-ended her.”
The collision occurred at 2:30 p.m.
Smith, an Air Force retiree, was appointed to the City Council in October 2012.
He ran unopposed in 2013.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
