8-Time Suspended Driver Let Go Without Arrest

A driver with a long criminal record, drunken driving convictions and a suspended driver’s license was cited but not arrested when she was pulled over along Interstate 405 Wednesday night, officials said.

A Washington State Patrol trooper stopped Leah Slemmer, 54, of Monroe, because she wasn’t wearing a seat belt, troopers said.

Troopers said Slemmer has been arrested 49 times. Her record includes four drunken driving convictions, eight convictions for driving with a suspended license and five convictions for driving without a valid driver’s license. Her license is suspended.

Troopers said Slemmer was not arrested because troopers were too busy at the time she was pulled over.

"The arrest occurred during the peak commute times ... and during that particular period of time, we couldn't cut a trooper loose to take that individual to jail," said Trooper Jeff Merrill.

Slemmer was cited in connection with driving with a suspended license and not having an ignition interlock device, which she is required to have.