Man falls asleep along I-5 in Lewis County, allegedly speeds away from state trooper

Julian Corrales Silva, 34, of Federal Way, was charged Wednesday in Lewis County Superior Court for driving under the influence and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. The charge for attempting to elude carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to court documents, on Aug. 31, a Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper was driving southbound on Interstate 5 when he observed a vehicle parked on the left shoulder of the road with its driver’s door open and engine running.

The driver was allegedly found asleep in the driver’s seat. Open beer cans were inside the vehicle. The trooper woke the driver and grabbed his arm in an attempt to remove him from the vehicle.

That’s when the suspect allegedly put the car in drive and sped from the trooper, according to court documents. The trooper followed the driver onto exit 82, before he finally came to a stop.

The driver, Corrales Silva, was arrested. According to court documents, Corrales Silva provided two blood alcohol content (BAC) breath samples that read .152 and .161.

Bail was set at $10,000 cash or bond during a preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Sept. 3, along with conditions that included no alcohol or drug consumption.

Corrales Silva has no prior felony convictions, according to Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello, who referenced the high BAC when requesting that bail remain at $25,000, the amount that was previously set over the weekend.

Defense attorney Rachael Tiller noted that Corrales Silva has stable residential information, is employed as a roofer, is married and supports a family. She asked for no more than $10,000, the amount that was ultimately set by Judge J. Andrew Toynbee.

An arraignment was then scheduled for Sept. 4, to which Corrales Silva failed to appear. In response, Judge Toynbee issued a no-bail warrant for his arrest.