Spokane7
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November 19, 2010 in City
Motorists block, report DUI suspect
Spokane man has history of drunken driving
Crabtree
(Full-size photo)
A 49-year-old Spokane man with a history of driving under the influence was arrested in Spokane Valley on Wednesday after concerned motorists blocked his path.
James L. Crabtree, a local real estate agent who worked as a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy in the 1980s, left jail on $3,500 bond Thursday after appearing in Superior Court on a drug possession charge.
He’s prohibited from driving under an order from Judge Sam Cozza.
A Spokane County sheriff’s deputy smelled alcohol on Crabtree’s breath and found an open container of Four Loko in his car, the caffeinated alcoholic beverage now banned in Washington. Wednesday was the last day it could legally be purchased.
Crabtree’s friend Glenn Sapp said the can belonged to a man whom Crabtree had dropped off just minutes before his arrest.
Sapp said a clonazepam pill found in Crabtree’s pocket – a prescription anxiety drug – belonged to another friend who dropped it in Crabtree’s Cadillac.
“He hasn’t been drinking, he hasn’t been doing any dope at all – not even marijuana,” Sapp said.
But deputies said in court documents that Crabtree acknowledged he had drunk two beers and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.065. The legal limit for driving is 0.08.
Crabtee was arrested near Broadway Avenue and Pines Road about 3:30 p.m. after motorists reported him “passing out” and nearly colliding with other cars as he drove west on Broadway.
Crabtree was convicted of vehicular assault and drug charges for a 2001 collision that nearly killed sheriff’s Deputy Earl Howerton, who was on patrol on Bigelow Gulch Road.
It took two years for Howerton to recover; he has since been promoted to sheriff’s lieutenant.
Crabtree was sentenced to five years in prison in August 2003, despite pleas for leniency from Spokane’s police chief at the time, Roger Bragdon, and former Spokane County Prosecutor Don Brockett.
Crabtree was involved in another drunken collision after his release from prison in 2006.
“He apparently has not gotten the message that he cannot use any type of substance,” Deputy Prosecutor Mary Ann Brady said on Thursday. “He’s dangerous.”
Crabtree has been charged with negligent driving in Spokane County District Court in connection with Wednesday’s arrest, but Brady said she may pursue a felony drunken driving charge because of his prior criminal record.
Crabtree’s friend Terri Gunderson said he’s being unfairly targeted because he used to be a deputy.
“They’re trying to make an example out of him because he used to be a cop,” Gunderson said.
Crabtree was hired as a sheriff’s cadet in January 1980 and as a deputy sheriff in March 1983. He resigned in July 1986.
His girlfriend, Cheryl Dassow, said he’s worked as a real estate agent for more than a year and shouldn’t be judged for his past troubles.
“Jim is the most kindest, gentlest man,” Dassow said.
Human trafficking suspects released 
Guy_Fawkes on November 19 at 7:48 a.m.
Yeah, a “friend” left the can of caffeinated booze, and a “friend” placed the anti-anxiety pill in his pocket…this guy has as many excuses as the people who get caught red-handed on camera on the TV show “COPS” who insist the drugs found on their person belonged to someone else, whose pants they borrowed.
“Jim is the most kindest, gentlest man,” Dassow said…he may be kind, but he is lacks common sense and good judgment, not to mention the fact that he is selfish for continuing to drive while under the influence, putting everyone else at risk.
NO ONE has a right to drive…it’s a privilege, and as such, this guy should no longer be allowed behind the wheel of a vehicle.
misjustice on November 19 at 7:55 a.m.
“He’s prohibited from driving under an order from Judge Sam Cozza.”
Any charge for violating that order?
The guy is now a real estate agent?
Agents MUST drive in order to do their job. They often drive clients to and from homes, or meet potential clients at homes, and they also routinely have to meet clients at closings and surely have other routine errands they must perform. Are we to believe that Mr. Crabtree either takes a cab or has a “friend” drive him around on his job?
This guy has a problem. Continuing to allow him to flaunt the law and court orders makes his problem our problem. Throw the book at him; a little jail times seems in order, here.
cpd805 on November 19 at 8:31 a.m.
Crabtree’s friend Terri Gunderson said he’s being unfairly targeted because he used to be a deputy. “They’re trying to make an example out of him because he used to be a cop,” Gunderson said.
That is about the stupidest thing I have ever heard. He is being targeted because he is an alcoholic/drug addict who keeps driving under the influence. He hasn’t been a cop for almost 25 years, and no one whould even know that if the SR did not keep bringing it up.
Mis, I believe that Cozza ordered him not to drive as a result of this latest case, if I am reading it correctly.
MissnSpokane on January 12 at 8:25 p.m.
How much is one person allowed to get away with? There obviously are issues that he has that we all know about, due to his continuing to breaking the law. One has to wonder what he has done that the paper doesn’t know?