A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Frank J. Gilbert
Contributed photo
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A man on four prescription medications drove so erratically, he swerved onto a sidewalk, drove over traffic cones and barrels in a construction zone and veered into a ditch before stopping for police.
The driver – identified as Frank J. Gilbert, 56, of Boring – is being held on $12,500 bail at the Multnomah County Detention Center on allegations of driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and recklessly endangering workers.
Officers responding to reports of a possibly intoxicated driver near Southeast 282d Avenue and Orient Drive at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, noticed a very slow moving vehicle northbound on Southeast 257th Drive from East Powell Boulevard, said Sgt. Rick Wilson, Gresham police spokesman.
The motorist was driving between 9 and 20 mph, weaving from side to side and at one point drove up onto the sidewalk. Officers tried to pull the driver over, but he continued at a slow speed toward a work zone on Southeast Kane that extends north almost to Division.
As the motorist and officer entered the work zone, the motorist ran over traffic cones, barrels and drove into a ditch. At least three road workers jumped out of the way to avoid being hit, Wilson said.
Finally, at Northeast Seventh Court just north of Kane Park, the motorist pulled over at 10:42 a.m. and was taken into custody without further incident.
Investigators determined Gilbert was on at least four prescription medications that can severely impair driving. As for why he didn’t stop, the man apparently did not realize police were behind him, Wilson said.
“It should be noted that this was not a traffic pursuit,” Wilson wrote in a press release. “It was simply a failure to yield.”
Tom, the writer(s) don't get to pick their own headlines, so don't blame Mara.
(email verified)
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Ooooooohhhhhh, Mara. Having a bad day are we? Actually, your story wasn't all that bad. Your headline editor however, needs to read your copy prior to putting a headline to it. Or perhaps he/she did. I agree with Tom. The headline leads the reader to believe the police stood around twiddling their thumbs while watching the man drive onto a sidewalk. If it bleeds, it reads...right, Mara? Happy new year to you, too.
(email verified)
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 03:51 PM
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Re: Police watch man drive onto sidewalk
Why is the story titled "Police watch man drive onto sidewalk"? What do you want the officers to do, run in front of the car and tell it to stop? This is just another example of how the media portrays police in a negative manner. But I dont think Mara Stine will ever make it to the top anyways.
"tom"
(email verified)
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Editorial response:
Tom,
The story was in no way intended to be a slam against police. I
thought the story made it clear that officers were not ignoring this
guy and just letting him run amuk - they were trying to get him to
pull over, but he in the words of the PIO "apparently" didn't notice
the patrol cars behind him. If anything, I thought the subject of the
story was the driver and suspect the reader focused on him, not on
officers "watching" him.
If the reader sees this story as officers acting in a negative way,
that's the reader's perception (and perhaps your own) but not mine.
By the way, I don't write the headlines, only the articles on which
they are based. If details of the traffic stop as written in the
article are incorrect, please let me know.
Have a happy new year,
Mara