On December 10, 2016 at 8:45 p.m., Newport Police Sergeant Purdom stopped Paul Frank Brinkerhoff, age 53 of Newport, on US Hwy 101 near Agate Beach (milepost 138), for Fail to Drive Within Lane. Police Officers had earlier received a driving compliant on the vehicle. Brinkerhoff showed signs of impairment. He consented to, and failed, Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. He was arrested for DUII.
Brinkerhoff had been released from the Lincoln County Jail to a third party who picked him up at 1:08 a.m. At 1:47 a.m., Sergeant Purdom again observed Brinkerhoff’s vehicle traveling northbound on US Hwy 101 about a mile north of the original traffic stop. It was unknown at that time who the driver was. Sergeant Purdom again initiated a traffic stop as the vehicle was unable to maintain its lane of travel.
Brinkerhoff was again behind the wheel, and the driver who came to pick him up was in the passenger seat. Brinkerhoff again consented to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, and failed. He was taken into custody a second time in the same evening for DUII.
Following both arrests, Brinkerhoff provided a breath sample that indicated he did not have alcohol in his system. During the course of the evening an evaluation was conducted by a certified Drug Recognition Expert. Brinkerhoff was found to be under the influence of various controlled substances from multiple drug categories.
Brinkerhoff was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail twice for DUII, and received an additional charge of Reckless Driving following the second arrest. His total bail amount for the evening was set at $45,000.
