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April 28, 2010 in City
Sheriff’s deputy pleads not guilty to drunken driving
Photographed through the glass doors of Spokane County District Court, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Darin Schaum,on right confers with lawyer Dallas Cooney, left, before pleading not guilty Wed. April 28, 2010 to drunken driving. COLIN MULVANY colinm@spokesman.com
(Full-size photo)
A Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy who refused an alcohol breath test after being stopped by Spokane Valley police pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a drunken driving charge.
Darin M. Schaum, 36, was described by police as “highly intoxicated” when Officer Todd Miller stopped Schaumm’s his Dodge truck on Broadway Avenue west of McDonald Road about 1:30 a.m. on April 16, according to documents filed this week in Spokane County District Court.
Miller said Schaum identified himself as a Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy, said he lived a couple blocks away and could find a ride home and that it “was going to cost Schaum his job if (police) didn’t allow him to go,” according to court documents.Schaum’s passenger, who appeared drunk, also identified himself as a Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy but didn’t give his name, according to court documents.
Sgt. Dave Reagan declined to identify that deputy, who he said was “cooperative with our investigation” and is not facing discipline. Schaum, part of a task force that tracks property crimes and fugitives, has been assigned to a desk job pending an internal investigation, Reagan said.
A Washington State Patrol trooper completed the drunken driving investigation because Miller and Schaum work for the same agency. The trooper said Schaum “took no responsibility for his actions in any way shape or form,” according to the documents.
“Schaum blamed me and Miller for ‘Doing this to me,’ ” the trooper wrote. “I informed Schaum that we didn’t make him drink and drive.”
Miller said Schaum, a 12-year Sheriff’s Office veteran, was racing another vehicle in his truck and swerving “all over the place” when he stopped him on Broadway. Miller first saw Schaum’s truck speeding about 1:25 a.m. before it turned on Broadway and crossed the center line, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Schaum told Miller his interaction with the other car was road-rage related, prosecutors said.
Schaum declined comment after his appearance in District Court with his lawyer, Dallas Cooney. One of Schaum’s supervisors with the Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Dan Blashill, attended the hearing “as a friend,” Blashill said.
Schaum’s next court hearing is a pre-trial conference on May 21 before visiting Judge Douglas Robinson from Whitman County, who handles conflict of interest cases for the county.
Schaum faces a one-year suspension of his driver’s license for refusing to take a breath test at the sheriff’s Valley precinct after his arrest. Drivers in Washington lose their licenses for one year the first time they refuse to take blood or breath tests under the state’s implied consent law, which applies to all licensed drivers.
Schaum was informed of that law before he refused, according to court documents.
Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Schaum’s refusal should have no bearing on how citizens interact with law enforcement during DUI stops.
“No matter who you are, you need to cooperate,” Knezovich said.
A driver who refuses the tests is given 60 days to appeal before his or her license is suspended.
The Sheriff’s Office is reviewing its policy on when to fire employees convicted of a DUI. Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick recently refused to install an ignition interlock device in the squad car of a sergeant after his DUI arrest. A new state law requires ignition devices in vehicles as a condition to offenders retaining limited driving privileges. The sheriff’s office currently fires employees after their second DUI.
Human trafficking suspects released 
avboden on April 28 at 7:35 p.m.
He needs to be out of the job, PERIOD. I have absolutely no problem throwing a cop out of his job after the first DUI offense. The whole nation is too lenient on DUIs as is.
lewis8457 on April 28 at 9:35 p.m.
How could the passenger not face discipline if he knew Schaum was drunk? He was a cop, witnessing and going along with illegal activity. Lesson learned….none
So a person employed to up hold the law can drive drunk as long as they don’t get caught and of they do it takes two times to get fired.
So Mr. Schaum was not only drunk but also stupid that night if he took the breath test he would not have been fired. But now that he refused he might lose his license. But as we all know might is a big word in Spokane when I comes to cops serving the same justice the rest of us get.
And now because of a new law we might as tax payers get to put inter lock deices on cop cars. And sadly the people of Spokane will probably vote yes for it.
Liberty_Bell on April 28 at 9:42 p.m.
I guess Spokane County still hasen’t reviewed the Skagit County Jury Award of 5.5 million dollars for failure to install an ignition interlock?
Did that pony express rider, fall of his horse to Spokane?
Talk about as dumb as a sack of potatoes?
smarg on April 29 at 4:43 a.m.
Typical public safety hooligan protected by his union thug rules. He doesn’t want to lose his fat pension so he’s lying his tail off.
BitofBacon on April 29 at 6:58 a.m.
Poor TJ, can’t get one of those union jobs?
Albert on April 29 at 7:23 a.m.
Sheriff Kenovich is up for re-election and has a massive integrity challenge pertaining to this ongoing “problem” with his staff of deputies. As I recall, he recently made a departmental ruling that any deputy who is “arrested” for 2 DUI’s, will be terminated. Not any DUI, but 2 of them! Here we have an example of racing, DUI, and a massive character gap as demonstrated, again, by his staff. I am appalled that this person plead not guilty in lieu of endangering innocent lives while racing down Broadway - drunk. Hello Sheriff Kenovich??? Where in the world is your backbone? Needless to say, I will not be voting, nor financially supporting Mr. Kenovich. IF anyone who has ANY backbone to implement change in all aspects of our local government runs for office, then I will provide all of the moral and financial support that I can. However at this point, we are stuck with “business as usual”. How sad.
rterrylynch on April 29 at 7:24 a.m.
It’s time for this guy to pay the piper. He is out of control and has both an alcohol and anger management problem. He needs to have some quiet time in jail; some mandatory anger management classes with supervision and take away his guns and all rights to carry a gun at any time.
He is an explosion ready to happen.
philipgregory on April 29 at 11:52 a.m.
This is typical of the arrogant attitude of the Spokane County Sheriff deputies.
Orange on April 29 at 12:36 p.m.
Not all phillip, not all.
But this guy takes the cake. Can’t believe he plead not-guilty. But then again, we ALL are going by what this newspaper reports. I doubt anyone commenting on this has reviewed any evidence.
garmiester on April 29 at 1:10 p.m.
Deputy Schaum, first you do have the same rights as anyone accused of driving under the influence of alcohol to plead guilty or not guilty. Second don’t, I repeat don’t, listen to these people who comment on your personal or professional life. If they have ever walked in any law enforcement shoes, they would understand how this situation could have happened to anyone of them. Last, you must use this situation as a starting point to rebuild your life. If is not with the Sheriff’s Dept., so be it. You do have friends that have been there and are willing to talk and listen. Your Friend!!
Orange on April 29 at 4:10 p.m.
Nope Garm, those who are professional and take their profession seriously, wouldn’t put themselves in this situation. I don’t understand, how can this “happen to anyone”?
Demontemple on April 29 at 6:57 p.m.
He needs to get the maximum sentence. Sounds like reckless driving and DUI. What a disgrace to an already disgraced police department. Spokane police aren’t too smart.