Police: Hit-and-run driver's BAC was 3X legal limit

POST FALLS — Police arrested a man who they said had two hit-and-runs while driving with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.

Jake E. Burwick, 30, is charged with excessive DUI, battery upon certain personnel, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, all misdemeanors.

In Idaho, a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more is considered impaired. Excessive DUI refers to a blood alcohol level of 0.20 or higher.

Police responded Sunday night to a report that a red Subaru hit a parked vehicle in a Post Falls neighborhood. Witnesses said the driver left the scene on foot.

The front end of the Subaru was caved in, police said, and the right side door panels were scraped from what appeared to be a sideswipe collision. The other vehicle reportedly sustained around $1,700 in damage.

The Subaru also hit both a stop sign and a tree elsewhere in Post Falls that evening, police said.

Inside the Subaru, police allegedly found a backpack that contained vape cartridges and a vape pen. The cartridges reportedly came from a dispensary and contained THC, the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects.

Police located and detained Burwick, who was on foot. He provided breath samples of 0.27, according to court documents.

A witness to the accident placed Burwick under citizen’s arrest. In Idaho, police cannot arrest someone for a misdemeanor offense unless they have a warrant or a law enforcement officer witnessed the crime.

Police transported Burwick to Kootenai Health for medical evaluation. At the hospital, Burwick allegedly kicked an officer before Burwick was cleared and transported to jail.

Burwick pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in 2019. He later failed to report for jail and for the Kootenai County Sheriff’s labor program, then failed to appear in court.

A judge issued a warrant for his arrest, which was active when police contacted him Sunday.

Judge James Stow ordered Monday that Burwick be held on $10,000 bail for the warrant arrest and $25,000 bail on the new charges.