Spokane7
58°
January 8, 2011 in City
Batty arrested again for DUI
Chronic offender pulled over before noon
A retired Spokane firefighter with a history of impaired driving and a conviction for vehicular homicide was arrested again Thursday after a state trooper smelled alcohol on his breath.
David W. Batty, 55, of Elk, had a blood-alcohol level of twice the legal limit for driving when he was stopped for speeding about 11:30 a.m. at milepost 310 on U.S. Highway 2, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Batty was arrested for felony drunken driving because of a 1993 conviction for a fatal, alcohol-related car crash on the same road.
Spokane County Superior Court Judge Michael Price on Friday set Batty’s bond at $5,000 and prohibited him from driving and from consuming alcohol.
“Apparently Mr. Batty’s had some alcohol treatment on a couple of occasions, and, regretfully, it doesn’t appear to have taken hold,” Price said. “I’m sure Mr. Batty is a nice gentleman, but I’ve got some real concerns about him being out there driving a vehicle with his inability to control his alcohol consumption.”
Deputy Prosecutor George Gagnon said he wasn’t concerned that Batty was a flight risk.
“We’re more interested here in community safety,” Gagnon said. “He’s already killed one person.”
Batty was rehired by the Spokane Fire Department after serving time in prison for vehicular homicide but was on medical leave when he caused a crash in January 2007 that killed three people. He was not charged in that crash but never returned to the Fire Department.
He was sentenced to nine months in jail in 2009 for felony drunken driving.
Batty’s latest DUI conviction came after he was stopped in July 2008 and tests showed he was impaired on prescription drugs and alcohol. Batty told police on Thursday that he had two drinks early that morning and had taken four prescription medications.
His public defender, Derek Reid, said Batty is in “significant pain” because of a back injury.
Human trafficking suspects released 
DHF on January 08 at 6:50 a.m.
Maybe they can hire him on the Police Dept since that seems to be one of the prerequisites to be an Officer.
tr00per on January 08 at 8:49 a.m.
Get this idiot off the road! I can’t believe he still has a license after a vehicular homicide conviction. $5,000 bail is another slap on the wrist. I don’t care how “nice” the guy seems, he needs to spend some serious time behind bars. It’s obvious he can’t stop drinking and driving so how many more people need to die before his driving privileges are permanently revoked?
lewis8457 on January 08 at 9:10 a.m.
the next thing we hear about him is will be rehired just like Thoma. We pay big money to a bunch of drunks.
Alcohol does not help back pain instead he should be smoking weed..
liarsinnews on January 08 at 11:12 a.m.
The DUI offense is so bad, other than to say what else is new in the Lilac City? Same old, same old. SAD!
bettytatum9 on January 08 at 7:41 p.m.
Establishing a solid credit history can cut your insurance costs. “Clearance Auto Insurance” will get you the lowest rate even for low credit scored.
DCB on January 26 at 7:55 a.m.
I have one question…
When are the people of Spokane going to put this “monster this thing” behind bars and not in bars. You pay for him to be there. Did you know that?
Do it NOW or you will probably be next.
Take it from me I know all to well - HE KILLED MY FATHER.