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Tenino police: Driver stopped with more than five times the legal limit alcohol level

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 54-year-old motorist was arrested by Tenino police yesterday when his blood alcohol content was measured at .415, a level the police chief says would be fatal to most people.

“The driver was not able to walk unassisted and when asked if he would complete any field sobriety tests he said he probably shouldn’t,” Tenino Police Department Chief John Hutchings said.

A Tenino police officer responded about 3:40 p.m. yesterday in Rainier to reports of a blue van swerving in and out of oncoming traffic, traveling 30 mph in a 50 mph zone and at one point coming to a complete stop in the middle of the road, according to police.

Officer Chris Davis found the van at state Route 507 and Manke Road and attempted a traffic stop with his lights and sirens but the driver continued at least a full minute before finally pulling over at the 13400 block of state Route 507, police reported.

The driver and his 57-year-old female passenger were both obviously intoxicated, Hutchings stated in a news release.

Gary D. Bielefeld, 54, of Lacey, was arrested for driving under the influence and taken to the Tenino Police Department for processing, according to the chief.

Two breath samples were taken and each registered .415, the chief stated. That’s more than five times above the .08 legal limit to drive.

A subsequent check determined Bielefeld was wanted on a no-bail felony warrant out of Jefferson City, Missouri, for persistent DUI offender, according to Hutchings.

Bielefeld was booked into the Thurston County Jail.