SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Dori: Update on alleged DUI offender in WA Attorney General’s Office

Jan 7, 2020, 6:35 AM

police chase, security detail, DUI...

(File, Associated Press)

(File, Associated Press)

We have an update on a story from November about the DUI arrest of a man who works for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office — a man whose job it is to uphold the law in our state.

When this prosecutor, Jason Ruyf, was brought into custody in the middle of the night on suspicion of DUI, he apparently refused the breathalyzer test, according to the police report. The Washington State Patrol, at that point, tried to get a warrant for a blood draw because he apparently exhibited numerous indicators of being intoxicated.

Pierce County Superior Court Judge Frank Cuthbertson said there was not enough evidence for a blood draw, but at the same time admitted that he knew Ruyf personally. Finally, two hours after the initial request, at about 4 a.m., the judge authorized the blood draw — but it looks to me like in that time, he bought Ruyf a two-hour delay for the alcohol in his bloodstream to be diluted.

When Ruyf was taken to the hospital for the blood draw, he reportedly became belligerent, potentially putting any nurse attempting to draw his blood at risk. He was thrashing around so violently that two more WSP units had to be brought in to restrain him. After the blood draw, he was released.

Dori: Legislator who blocked drunk driving bill got a DUI last year

The reason that tipsters reached out to our show when this happened was that they were certain this case would disappear due to this man’s status in government. Despite the fact that his actions endangered Washington residents, he already had a judge sticking up for him. It’s a pretty sad state of affairs in Washington when a WSP trooper has to contact my radio show on his own to ensure justice is served.

You see, there are two tiers of justice in our state. If you are connected to government, you can break the law. Governor Jay Inslee had a staffer with an expensive waterfront home in Thurston County who abused the low-income housing program, taking a low-income condo in Bellevue from a person who needed it and buying it as a second home. Our state is like the mob — if you’re connected, you can get away with almost anything.

We have now found out, in a one-sentence statement from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, that Ruyf no longer works there. We do not know if he was fired or if he resigned.

Here is what we do know. Because somebody within the WSP was brave enough to reach out to us, we were able to make sure that a public official did not skate by, and was not granted a privilege that you and I would never be afforded. I’m always proud of that with our show. And it is only made possible with tips from you, the listeners. This isn’t just the Dori Monson Show team — this is our entire community working together.

Listen to the Dori Monson Show weekday afternoons from 12-3 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

hidden camera Pokémon executive...

James Lynch

Former Pokémon executive accused of secretly recording hundreds of victims, including children, faces new charges

A former Pokémon executive, already facing voyeurism charges, has been accused of secretly recording hundreds of videos of women and children.

2 minutes ago

Associated Press

Man dressed as Spider-Man jumps to assist a person using a wheelchair to cross lanes of traffic

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A man using a wheelchair was struggling to get across six lanes of traffic in an Arkansas city when help came in an unexpected way — from a spidery superhero who jumped into action from a red Jeep waiting at a light. Christopher Hellenthal was still garbed in his Spider-Man […]

25 minutes ago

dandy starbucks 3...

Julia Dallas

Starbucks teams up with popular brand to release exclusive merch during Bite of Seattle

Starbucks is teaming up with a popular Southern California streetwear brand to release limited-edition merchandise at a pop-up event.

50 minutes ago

FILE - A person leaves the state Capitol after a special session of the state legislature to redraw...

Associated Press

Federal judges allow new Tennessee congressional map that splits majority-Black district in Memphis

A federal judicial panel has allowed Tennessee to use a new congressional map that splits apart a majority-Black district in Memphis, providing another legal victory for Republicans who hope to gain an additional seat in this year’s midterm elections. A three-judge panel on Thursday declined to issue a preliminary injunction against the new districts, paving […]

60 minutes ago

FILE - A sign hangs outside the director's office of the Alaska Division of Elections, March 19, 20...

Associated Press

Alaska sends 3,000 letters asking voters to verify their citizenship ahead of this year’s elections

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The state has sent more than 3,000 letters to Alaska voters asking them to verify their citizenship ahead of the Aug. 18 primary, a number a top state elections official said is unusually high. The letters have raised concerns among some state lawmakers, including one who said some constituents who received […]

1 hour ago

Seattle free lunch school...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Another rookie mistake by Mayor Wilson’: Gee and Ursula clash over who stalled Seattle’s free school lunch plan

Mayor Katie Wilson's initiative for free meals in schools faces hurdles. Explore the debate and its implications for Seattle students.

1 hour ago

Dori: Update on alleged DUI offender in WA Attorney General’s Office