SEATTLE - An allegedly intoxicated man grinding his Porsche 911 through downtown Seattle with a missing right rear tire, apparently didn't realize it, instead insisting to the trooper who pulled him over that his transmission was going out.
A Washington State Patrol trooper assigned to the King County Holiday Enforcement Team, arrested 62-year-old James A. Stephenson of Seattle.
The trooper spotted Stephenson driving east on Pike Street from 3rd Avenue in his Porsche 911 sports car on Dec. 29. According to a press release, pedestrians stopped and stared as the vehicle went by, "making a loud grinding noise and emitting lots of sparks."
When the trooper stopped the vehicle and asked Stephenson for his driver's license, Stephenson quickly informed the trooper that his transmission was going out.
"The trooper advised Stephenson that his vehicle was not having a transmission problem," the press release says. "Stephenson became belligerent and asked the trooper if he was a mechanic or a cop. The trooper advised Stephenson that he was not a mechanic and asked Stephenson to step from his Porsche so that he could show him something. Upon exiting his Porsche, the trooper pointed to the right rear tire, which was completely missing from the wheel. The trooper continued around the Porsche and pointed to the right front tire which was completely flat."
Stephenson told the trooper that the car was in good condition when he left a friend's house.
Soon after this exchange, the trooper determined Stephenson was heavily intoxicated and arrested him for DUI. It is not known Stevenson's car hit prior to the traffic stop.
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