Driver found asleep at the wheel early this morning as car sat running at gas pump

Subject refused breath analyzer so court ordered blood test to determine alcohol level

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Olympia police were called early this morning to investigate a suspicious vehicle idling in front of a gas pump; once they arrived they found an intoxicated man passed out over the wheel.

McKenzie White, 34, had his head against the car wheel, eyes closed when officers approached his brown Infinity at approximately 2:37 a.m. on May 4. The vehicle’s engine was running and headlights illuminated. Olympia Police report that they recognized the vehicle parked in the same spot earlier, when they answered a nearby unrelated service call.

Two officers attempted to wake White but had a hard trouble doing so. One of them turned off the car’s ignition and took the keys. The other officer noted that there was an open bottle of Olde English visible in the backseat.

When he awoke, White’s eyes were reportedly bloodshot and watery. He struggled to get his wallet out to show officers his identification. He complained of having to go to the bathroom.

White refused to take a field sobriety test and a breath sample. He told officers that he had “a beer.” He later told officers that he drove his friends home from the bar and shouldn’t be in trouble for sleeping in his car.

Officers removed White from the car and “smelled urine.” The police noted that they could see that the front of White’s pants were wet.

Because White refused to take a breath analyzer test police arranged a warrant to have a sample of White’s blood drawn and transported him to Capital Medical Center.  

White told officers later that he had been arrested for a DUI two months ago after colliding with a jersey barrier near Tacoma. Dispatch said that White was supposed to have an ignition interlock device in his vehicle, but officers did not see one. White told officers later that he was “saving up” to purchase one.

White was charged with 1) an ignition interlock device violation, 2) driving while license suspended 2nd, and 3) physical control.

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