By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A Lewis County sheriff’s deputy arrested for drunken driving over the weekend while off duty is scheduled to go before a judge tomorrow afternoon.
Jeffrey S. Humphrey has been with the sheriff’s office for 11 years. He is on paid administrative leave, according to the sheriff’s office.
Humphrey was stopped by a trooper early Sunday morning on Interstate 5 in the Chehalis area, according to the Washington State Patrol. He was pulled over when he attempted to drive through the closed area of a collision scene, state patrol spokesperson Stephen Robley said.
Robley said he believed it occurred about 3 a.m.
“He was arrested for DUI, processed and then released,” Robley said. “And the charges were forwarded to the Lewis County prosecutor.”
Robley said he didn’t have many details, and said he didn’t know why the case was referred for a charging decision as opposed to the trooper issuing a citation with a date and time for Humphrey to appear in court.
Robley, who is an agency spokesperson and works patrol in Clark County, said in his work, those decisions and whether to book a person into jail depend on a variety of factors sometimes related to how cooperative an individual is or if they also have a warrant.
Humphrey’s vehicle was towed and he was released from the troopers custody at his home, Robley said.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said he asked his counterparts in Thurston County to select a special deputy prosecutor to handle the case because of appearances of fairness. The Lewis County Prosecutors Office represents the sheriff’s office, he said.
The charge was filed on Monday in Lewis County DIstrict Court.
Sheriff Steve Mansfield issued a statement saying his deputy will be processed through the criminal justice system just as anyone else arrested for the same offense would. In addition, an internal investigation will be conducted, according to Mansfield.
Humphrey works on the sheriff’s office drug task force.
One of his recent large cases was the so-called Operation Big Bottom Bust in Randle in June in which 10 residents were arrested following a months-long investigation of under cover purchases of methamphetamine.
Humphrey’s arraignment is set for 2 p.m. tomorrow before Judge Michael Roewe.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Lewiscountysocietysucks…sounds like you have a lot of knowledge about said drug busts. Explains your obvious hate and disrespect for cops and the judicial system. My guess is that your rant has nothing to do with Humphrey’s DUI, but just another avenue to spew your venom towards anyone in law enforcement.
Oh ya, Humphrey is part of the Drug task force, and anything DUI, is , considered a drug. So how ironic I find this situation he has found and put himself in. He should NOT be on administrative leave. He is being paid for breaking the LAW. I dont know about the rest of you tax payers, but I do not want to pay for a Drug force, chicken shit, law breaking, corrupt PIGS mistake while they investigate the incident. They do not investigate any other DUI’s. Humphrey is not above the LAW, just because he is a corrupt, crooked Cop. and yes he was a big corrupt part of the Big Bottom Bust, and the Merry Xmas Bust, but those that take it to the box will win their cases or will be dismissed for lack of back up evidence, it is all hear say, those 3 big time drug dealers before the Merry Xmas bust were all dismissed cases, and the one arrested in that arrest was arrested at Xmas took it to the box and was found not guilty, and the prosecution and Humphrey was lectured for 15 mins for waisting every ones time for hear say. They are waisting We The Peoples Time, and Money. Take his pay away and treat him like any other law breaker….
What makes me angry is that thisguy was off duty and was drinking and driving. Now the off duty makes me mad because he is now on administrative leave pending an investigation. Any other people more than likely would not had a job to go back to when working the government ie: county state or federal jobs. Now on the other point of the drinking and driving; this guy is a lewis county deputy sheriff, he enforces laws such as the one he has broken. He is an should held to a higher standard because is an enforcer of the criminal code. In all reality if he isnot punished for his actions like anyone else would be wwho was caught driving while under the influence the officer could never enforce the DUI laws or who anyone ever be able to take him as creditable for any reason.
NWA…ARE YOU HIS WIFE? IF NOT YOU SHOULD STOP MAKING THOSE LAME ASS EXCUSES FOR HIM. YOUR ONLY MAKING HIM LOOK WORSE. KINDA LIKE THE GUY WHO SAID HE WAS WITH SIX IN ABERDEEN THE NIGHT OF THE MURDERS.
Abusybodiesandnosey neighbors…..Really?
As for Humphrey..how is it acceptable for a cop to put himself into the predicament he is in? I mean…he really fucked up by being drunk and driving, given the fact hes on the task force especially. But on top of it,he is so drunk he blows right into the middle of a closed off collision scene? Cmon
And then theres the Sheriff saying its going to be handled just like any other persons case would be. Whatever…Robley said the case was already handed over to be decided what they are going to charge him with instead of using normal procedure. And this is kind of the same as construction zone enhancements isnt it? Except he blew into a bunch of cops in a closed off collision scene!!!!!????? Work it Mansfield…nobodys gonna call you on it.
“Humphrey’s vehicle was towed and he was released from the troopers custody at his home, Robley said.”
Percs that come from being part of the thin blue line. If the impound lot operator charges for the tow or storage, he won’t get another call to tow for months. He’ll have to eat this one.
Does anyone have a clue hear that Officers working drug enforcement details sometimes drink to fit in and get the real dope dealers. Can’t walk into a bar or what ever and say, not drinking, not doing drugs, and expect to do what your paid to do. Thank about it people. The bac reading would be interested to know. YA THINK
When you think about the hundreds of people that frequent the bars every weekend, how do they get home? We only have so many taxis here in LC.
Call, Walk, Anything but Drive!
I’m all for not destroying a person over a DUI, but I’m also all for not making up excuses. We each are responsible for our actions. If you drink, don’t drive; Period!
While everyone is entitled to freedom of speech, the fact is “human beings” make mistakes! And “human beings” pay the consequences for their mistakes. I know a few people that have been stopped for drinking, not booked, and have gotten a ride home. (And they were not law enforcement )
Law enforcement are here to protect our community and set an example, but they are also scrutinized ten times over for something alot of ppl probably do on a regular basis.
When you think about the hundreds of people that frequent the bars every weekend, how do they get home? We only have so many taxis here in LC
Driving Drunk is Now Classified as a “Mistake”? So, the next time a drunk driver kills or injures someone, Especially someone close to you…feel bad for the Drunk Driver because remember he just made a Mistake. Just like officer Humphrey.?
So since all you you who have stepped up and talked Sh** about this person, I would guess its would be a fair assumption that NONE OF YOU HAVE EVER MADE A MISTAKE!! You should all be ashamed of your self’s! The negative comments you all are making is called BULLYING!! He may have made a dangerous and stupid mistake but it most certainly dose not give YOU all the right to act as if your own S**t dosent stink. Grow The EFF UP. You people are the reason why we have such a Big PROBLEM with our kids bullying each other. Perhaps you should stop and think how you would feel if it were you being belittled and smeared??!!!
I’m glad to read that at least “Free Air” and a couple others have their head on correctly around here! Deputy Humphrey will come out of this a lot worse than any “normal” John Doe getting a DUI. No one else gets their name and occupation smeared all over the evening news and all over the internet in big bold lettering. It’d sure be nice if the media treated the person as an equal as well. Just list the name out with the rest of the DUI’s for the weekend and it would probably go pretty much unnoticed. But of course that can’t be done.
And yes it does happen where someone who gets a DUI doesn’t get booked into jail. It actually happens quite often. Those of you who say not so must know some pretty uncooperative people when it comes to Law Enforcement. He made a mistake or a bad judgment call just like everyone else has in their life. And yes, luckily no one was injured or worse during his mistake. But to use his career against him to crucify him is uncalled for. He’ll get the worst end of the deal by far when it’s all said and done.
Soaper
I always like what you have to say. Quality rants my friend.
“Who else gets their car delivered to their house after being arrested for Intoxicated Driving.”
Nobody, not even this cop. You missed it.
The car was towed and impounded as required by DUI law, not taken home.
He was taken home, not his car.
A guy I worked with a guy who was very corporative with the trooper, who then gave him a ride home. It happens.
Call me ignorant, but I would say that is very special treatment. If they are apparently getting treated like anybody else they can sit in jail like anybody else. I don’t care if it is a cop or not if they commit a crime they can sit in there with the rest of the criminals. The cops sure are brave when they are throwing people in jail, but sure turn into cowards when the tables are turned. In my opinion that is a major double standard. Who else gets their car delivered to their house after being arrested for Intoxicated Driving.
Nothing against Humphrey in particular, but he has no business on the drug task force as he appears to have a problem with substances himself and uses poor judgement when under the influence of them. A person with poor judgement is not somebody you want kicking in peoples’ doors with loaded automatic weapons in their hand which is what his job entails.
To those who say “the only reason we are hearing about this is because he is a police officer” first of all you are wrong. If somebody was to go through a closed off accident scene where troopers were right in the middle of conducting an investigation (which puts the troopers and any other emergency personal there in serious danger) while drunk I am sure you would be reading about it.
Also, do you ever stop to consider maybe cops should be held to a little bit higher standards than the average joe? Afterall, they make their living by taking peoples freedom away who break the law. They represent the law. To turn around and break the laws they enforce says a lot about how they view themselves and how they view us.
“Treated like everyone else,,, I think not!!!!”
Boy, I’m in agreement with you there!
Had it been you or I:
Our names would not have made it to the front page of the Chronicle, Komo news another Seattle News Outlets for a simple non accident DUI.
We would not be in danger of loosing our job.
We would not be in danger of this being a career ending event and having to learn another trade and start all over again.
Our process through the courts would not be followed every step of the way like his is going to be.
It’s just like the reserve who got in a motorcycle wreck down by Toledo. Cops are under a plate of glass for all to see 24/7.
As far as not going to jail goes, I’ve head that on the scanner more than once where they get processed in Morton, then handed over to what must be a friend or family member, so no special treatment there. I’m sure if he were an ass to the Trooper then he would have gone to jail. I’m also guessing he realized how badly he messed up when those lights came on!
Wow the Humphreys are really on a roll… The wife runs a stop sign and smashes a car full of kids and now the husband is out driving drunk. Sounds like it’s time to hand over the keys in this family. Also do love how he’s on paid leave and he got booked and released… I’m sure it had to do with cooperation and not the fact he’s a cop and they didn’t want to put him in with all the men he’s busted over the years. And God forbid he should have to bail himself out and spend money like everyone else does. Barf.
I partially agree that he should be treated no differently than any other DUI suspect with the exception that he is a member of law enforcement. Like it or not these folks need to be held to a higher standard than ordinary citizens. I am not saying he needs to have his constituional rights denied or be crucified but when someone willingly becomes a police officer they are looked at in a different light.
To be in a position to enforce the laws is an awesome responsibility and then to violate one of those laws, especially putting the public at risk by driving under the influence (allegedly) is a serious violation. The Sheriff’s Office probably has a policy about not driving drunk and the policy violation could cost the deputy his job.
We do have to remember that police officers are drawn from the community and are just humans like the rest of us. They are not perfect and can make mistakes. But with that said they need to face the music for their actions as well.
Sad case all around with no winners and luckily no one was injured or killed.
There are two kinds of law: one for rich people and cops, and another one for the rest of us.
Any relation? https://lewiscountysirens.com/?p=20654
That’s exactly right, Meh. There is a reason they wouldn’t book him into jail. Besides being a police officer, who probably arrested some of the inmates…he is also a drug enforcement detective, who has been involved in under cover cases. To assume that he wasn’t booked into jail just because he’s getting “special” treatment is ignorant.
I would think that it would be safer to NOT have the deputy in jail. Plus, the county already knows just about everything about him, so if he tries to run/evade, they’ll be able track him down and throw the book at him.
“He’ll be processed threw the criminal justice system like everyone else”, my ass! He got a personal escort to his door step so he can go to his comfy bed to sleep it off, instead of going to jail!! If it we’re me or you, we would be going directly to jail with out a get out of jail free card!!! Treated like everyone else,,, I think not!!!!
Truth be told the only reason you are reading about this is because he is a deputy. If he was anyone else the arrest might have been mentioned in the “and more” section, or not at all.
The reason he is on paid leave is because he has been charged, but not convicted yet. It is an ongoing investigation and this is common procedure. I agree that we don’t need to crucify Officer Humphrey, solely based on the fact that he is a police officer. The law is the law, and he doesn’t need to receive any harsher punishment or consequences than any other citizen. It’s disturbing how many people want to be judge and juror on these media sites. If this were anybody else, an average citizen, who was arrested for a DUI…nobody would even think twice about it.
It’s only fair this guy get treated like everyone else, which means he doesn’t need to be crucified to make a point just because he’s a cop. He’s human and he made a mistake, just like every other person on the planet. What I don’t necessarily agree with is the fact that he is on paid leave.
HATS OFF TO THE OFFICER THAT BUSTED HUMPHREY AND IS OBVIOUSLY NOT IN THE “GOOD OLE FELLAS CLUB” THANK YOU!