A low-speed chase ended up with the DWUI arrest of a Rock Springs man last week, according to Sweetwater County Sheriff Mike Lowell.

The sheriff said an off-duty Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper called in a REDDI (Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately) tip late on the afternoon of November 21 on an older blue pickup being driven erratically near Volcic's Trailer Park West of Rock Springs.

A Deputy Sheriff soon spotted the vehicle on a dirt road west of the trailer court. When the deputy activated his emergency lights, the suspect, later identified as 40-year-old Phillip Smith of Rock Springs, first drove onto Foothill Boulevard and then turned into the trailer court, driving up and down its streets at speeds of 10 to 30 mph.

The deputy continued to chase Smith, who several times drove out of the trailer court and into the sagebrush-covered ground nearby before returning to the trailer park. More sheriff's deputies as well as Rock Springs Police and Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers soon joined the chase.

Smith cut across lawns and driveways, nearly hitting a small pickup and then a passenger car before hitting a garbage can and a Rock Springs Police car.

The chase continued, with law enforcement officers finally deploying road spikes which deflated three of Smith's tires. His 1985 Dodge pickup was finally forced to stop only inches away from hitting yet another vehicle.

Arresting officers said Smith's eyes were bloodshot and watery and that they could smell alcohol on his breath. They found several unopened cans of beer in his cab, as well as an unopened 2-liter bottle of Black Velvet whiskey.

At last report Smith was in custody in the Sweetwater County Detention Center, charged with DWUI, attempting to elude police officers, failure to maintain liability coverage and interference with a peace officer.

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