Oregon DUI Driver Who Killed Burien Boy In August Pleads ‘Guilty’

An Oregon man accused of causing a crash on Aug. 21 that killed Gabriel Arthur Pena, a 3-month old baby boy from Burien, pleaded guilty Wednesday (Nov. 30) to vehicular homicide, according to The Columbian.  Christopher... [Read more]

New Website (And App) Will Show You Where DUI Patrols Will Be

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission unveiled a new website that will show when and where police will be looking for people Driving Under the Influence (DUI) – it’s called waTikiLeaks.com,... [Read more]

REPORT: 3-Month Old Burien Boy Killed By Drunk Driver Sunday Night

The Columbian is reporting that Gabriel Pina, a 3-month old Burien boy, was killed in a drunk-driving incident on I-5 Sunday night (Aug. 21) near Vancouver, Washington. The Washington State Patrol says... [Read more]

Suspect In DUI Vehicular Assault On State Trooper Faces Sentencing

On Friday (May 27th), Julio Matins-Paes was scheduled to appear for sentencing in front of Judge J. Hill at the Regional Justice Center in Kent for Vehicular Assault charges stemming from a December 13,... [Read more]

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What BTB Readers Need To Know About Washington’s DUI Penalties

by Tracy Codd BTB Advertiser Defendants arrested for a first offense DUI in this state are subject to both pending criminal and administrative licensing penalties. The state of Washington employs a multi-tiered... [Read more]

DUI Driver Busted In Burien Court For Being Drunk; Then Gets Second DUI

The Washington State Patrol tells us about how a Kent man facing a May 2010 DUI charge got busted again for showing up for his hearing – drunk – in a Burien Courtoom last week. To somehow show that... [Read more]

Driver Arrested For DUI After Traveling Wrong Way On Freeway For 11 Miles

The Washington State Patrol is reporting that a 40-year old Federal Way man was arrested Sunday morning (Sept. 12) for investigation of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) after several 911 callers alerted... [Read more]

Burien Man Arrested For DUI With 3-Year Old Child in Vehicle

The Washington State Patrol reports that a 57-year old Burien man was arrested Sunday (Aug. 22) for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) after he was stopped by a Trooper for failing to wear his seatbelt. Juan... [Read more]

Bride-To-Be Busted For DUI Just Hours Before Her Burien Wedding

The Washington State Patrol is reporting that a bride-to-be was arrested for DUI early Saturday morning, just hours before her Burien wedding. The 31 year old Bellevue woman was busted just after 6am by... [Read more]

Two Men Injured In Burien Car Crash Friday Night

The Washington State Patrol reports that two men were injured in a single-car crash in Burien Friday night around 8:20pm. According to the report, a 45-year-old Burien man was attempting to exit to South... [Read more]

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W. Tracy Codd: Admissibility Of Breath Tests Entering Uncertain Era

Codd to Blog: Admissibility of Breath Tests in King County District Courts Entering Uncertain Era. B-Town Blog Advertiser W. Tracy Codd is a local attorney who keeps his legal eyes on the law pertaining... [Read more]

“X-52″ DUI Patrols Start This Weekend In Area

Beginning this Friday (Dec. 18th) and continuing through New Year’s Eve, law enforcement in King County will join other local police to conduct “X-52″ patrols around the area, including... [Read more]

Burien City Manager Mike Martin Granted Deferred Prosecution In DUI Charge

by Ralph Nichols Burien City Manager Mike Martin on Tuesday (June 23rd) was granted a deferred prosecution (download court doc as a PDF here) on a DUI charge (driving under the influence) by King County... [Read more]

Citizens Mount Protest Against City Manager Mike Martin

Story and Photos by Michael Brunk

Wednesday afternoon (May 20th), Tai Oh of Burien (right, below) and Terry Torbet of Kent (left) stood on SW 148th near First Avenue South holding a large banner protesting City Manager Mike Martin’s recent DUI incident, as seen in these pictures by Michael Brunk:

BREAKING: Mike Martin Enters “Not Guilty” Plea To DUI

by Ralph Nichols

Burien City Manager Mike Martin entered a plea of “Not Guilty” on Friday (May 15th) to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol stemming from a minor traffic accident on April 19th. Martin appeared before King County District Court Judge Eileen Kato, who scheduled a pretrial hearing for June 23rd.

Martin, 55, refused to perform field sobriety tests or take a Breathalyzer test when he was arrested following the one-car accident in Burien. As a result, his driver’s license was suspended, as required by state law, when formal DUI charges were filed on May 6th.

On Monday (May 11th), the Burien City Council approved an amended contract for Martin on a 5-1 vote, which imposes strict “alcohol-related conditions” with which he must “comply fully” to retain his position as city manager.

In agreeing to the addition of alcohol-related conditions to his contract, Martin denied committing “any wrongful or criminal act,” but acknowledged “that the facts and circumstances of his arrest may constitute ‘cause’ to terminate his employment under the Original Agreement.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• OPINION: What Mike Martin Should Have Said About His DUI
• City Keeps Mike Martin On, Requires Amended Contract
• City Manager Mike Martin Formally Charged With DUI
• OPINION: Mike Martin Must Tell The Truth Or Resign
• Burien City Manager Mike Martin Arrested For DUI

Jack Block Jr. Announces Campaign To Return To Council

Jack Block, Jr., former Deputy Mayor and Councilmember, on Friday (May 15th) announced his candidacy for Burien City Council, Position 7, currently held by Sally Nelson.

Last we saw Mr. Block was at the April 27th City Council meeting when he voiced his support for City Manager Mike Martin, who was recently charged with a DUI, resulting in Martin’s amended contract.

“I was proud of the investments we made in our community in Burien while I served on the City Council,” said Block in a statement. “But I have unfinished business, and want to ensure that Burien is looking after our working families and their futures…”

OPINION: What Mike Martin Should Have Said About His DUI

An Editorial by Jim Branson

Imagine how quickly and simply this fiasco might have been solved if Mike Martin had said the following…

City Keeps Mike Martin On, Requires Amended Contract

by Ralph Nichols

The Burien City Council imposed on Monday (May 11th) strict “alcohol-related conditions” with which City Manager Mike Martin must “comply fully” if he is to retain that position. Martin is scheduled to be arraigned in King County District Court Friday on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The conditions are included in an amendment to Martin’s contract (download and view PDF here), which was approved without discussion with a 6-1 vote by city lawmakers. Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak, who publicly called for Martin’s ouster following his arrest for allegedly driving under the influence, cast the dissenting vote. She also cast the lone vote against Martin when the council hired him as city manager in January 2007.

Here’s a portion of the amended contract…