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Moses Lake woman sentenced to over a year for driving under the influence

by EMRY DINMAN
Staff Writer | August 9, 2020 6:50 PM

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake woman with a history of driving offenses was sentenced to 15 months in prison for driving while under the influence in connection with a May incident when her blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit, according to court documents.

Amber Mitchell, 29, pleaded guilty Aug. 4 to felony DUI. Charges of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and hit-and-run of an unattended vehicle were dismissed by the court. She was sentenced in 2012 for vehicular assault while under the influence, during which case additional charges were also previously dismissed.

On May 14, 2020, a Moses Lake police officer parked at McCosh Park watched Mitchell drive through a 25 mph zone at approximately 50 mph, according to court documents. The officer began to pursue Mitchell, who ran a stop sign and began accelerating at what the officer described as an extreme rate of speed.

Near the 900 block of West Fourth Avenue, Mitchell attempted to make a turn, but due to her high speed drove onto the curb and struck a parked Lexus SUV. Mitchell began to drive away again, leading the officer to the back of an apartment complex. Once in the parking lot, Mitchell came to a stop and was arrested, according to court documents. The arresting officer reportedly found an empty bottle of whiskey and several empty beer cans in the car.

Mitchell declined a field sobriety test, and the officer acquired a warrant to get a blood sample. According to court documents, Mitchell’s BAC was 0.22 percent; the legal limit is 0.08 percent.