Early Sunday morning in Issaquah turned chaotic when police arrested a juvenile after finding a car sitting awkwardly at the entrance to a commercial parking lot along NW Sammamish Road. Officers say the young driver appeared clearly impaired and was taken into custody, while another juvenile discovered at a nearby home was unconscious and later taken to the hospital for suspected alcohol poisoning. Police report the vehicle did not belong to the driver, and the case is moving ahead through standard juvenile detention and charging protocols.
According to a post by the Issaquah Police Department, an on-duty officer spotted the vehicle partially inside the lot with its engine running, loud music blasting, and both rear tires completely flat. Officers say the juvenile behind the wheel showed slurred speech, confusion, trouble following instructions and noticeably impaired motor coordination. Voluntary field sobriety tests reportedly revealed multiple indicators of impairment, and a voluntary preliminary breath test at the scene showed a breath-alcohol concentration well above the per se limit for someone under 21, according to the department.
Officers then conducted a welfare check at a nearby residence, where they found a juvenile unconscious and "covered in vomit," the post states. Eastside Fire & Rescue transported that juvenile to the hospital for suspected alcohol poisoning. "Impaired driving, especially involving juveniles, places drivers and others at significant risk," the department warned in the post. Police say the juvenile driver admitted he knew he was not allowed to take the vehicle and chose to do it anyway.
Charges and next steps
The juvenile driver was booked on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence, then transported to the King County Juvenile Detention Center for processing. Officers say a phone connected to the vehicle helped them track down and notify the registered owners, who confirmed the car had been taken without their consent. That stretch of NW Sammamish Road has also shown up recently in police blotters for thefts and vehicle prowls, according to the city's crime blotter.
What the law says
Under Washington law it is an offense for drivers under 21 to operate or be in control of a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or higher; see RCW 46.61.503 for the statutory language. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission notes that impaired driving remains the most common factor in traffic deaths statewide, a reminder of the wider dangers tied to underage drinking and vehicle use; see WTSC for recent statewide figures.
Issaquah police urged parents and community members to keep vehicle keys secured and to talk with teens about the risks of drinking and driving. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the department. Investigators say they plan to release updates as the juvenile court process moves forward.
