He's had to deal with the worst conflict zones in the world, but now former U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker has a headache to deal with at home: Hit-and-run and intoxicated driving charges. On Thursday, Washington state authorities said Crocker, one of the most decorated State Department officials in the last 50 years, was arrested last week in Spokane Valley. KXLY reporter Jeff Humphrey has the details:
According to the State Patrol, Crocker was in the left turn lane on Pines turning onto Sprague when he tried to turn right from the left turn lane, crossing two lanes of traffic and clipped a semi, damaging the passenger side of the 2009 Ford Mustang he was driving. The driver of the semi was uninjured. An eyewitness to the incident followed Crocker and forwarded information about it on to authorities.
Crocker was pulled over, taken into custody and transported to the Spokane Valley Precinct where he received a sobriety test. He had a .16 BAC on one test, which is twice the legal limit in Washington State. Another test indicated a .152 BAC.
After his arrest, Crocker pleaded not guilty in court. The career diplomat who has worked in the Middle East for the last 30 years, Crocker came out of retirement in 2011 to serve as ambassador to Afghanistan after President Obama nominated him. As The Associated Press' Gene Johnson and Nicholas Geranios report, prior to that, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, from President George W. Bush, after serving as ambassador to Iraq between 2007 and 2009.