DUI suspect allegedly steals deputy's ticket book

THURSTON COUNTY -- A Thurston County sheriff's deputy who drove a suspected DUI driver home as a courtesy Friday night might be reconsidering his act of kindness after the 27-year-old suspect allegedly stole the deputy's ticket book, the Olympian reported.

According to the Olympian, the deputy cited the 27-year-old for a DUI at 11:20 p.m. near Black Lake Boulevard and Park Drive SW. The deputy had a civilian ride along in his car, so his bag was in the back seat. The deputy took the DUI suspect to jail, where he was cited. The deputy then, as a courtesy, drove the suspect home to his residence.

After dropping the suspect off, he noticed his ticket book was missing from the back seat of his patrol car. The deputy drove to the suspect's house where he found the man on the porch drinking from a bottle of wine, according to the Olympian. The deputy asked where the ticket book was, but the man refused to answer him. The suspect's uncle, who was at home, came outside and told the deputy that he found the ticket book under the suspect's clothes in his closet.

The deputy rearrested the suspect on suspicion of second-degree theft. He was booked into the Thurston County Jail.

According to the Olympian, deputies will often drive a DUI suspect home after they are booked into jail, but they are under no obligation to do so.

"That's probably the last time that deputy gives a DUI suspect a ride home," Thurston County Sheriff's Lt. Greg Elwin told the Olympian.