Assessor's blood-alcohol tested 0.22% after crash

King County Assessor Scott Noble, whose blood-alcohol level was measured at nearly three times the legal limit after a wrong-way freeway accident last month, is facing growing questions about his political future.

Noble and two women were injured Jan. 18 when his SUV allegedly made a U-turn on Interstate 5 in Federal Way and collided head-on with the women's oncoming SUV.

The first State Patrol trooper to contact Noble at the scene after the 2:13 a.m. crash wrote that he "could smell the strong obvious odor of intoxicant coming from the driver. I noticed his eyes were red and watery."

When asked how much he had had to drink, Trooper Eric Purcell wrote in his report, Noble responded, "I don't know how much I had to drink, I had too much." He said he had drunk red wine.

After medical workers removed him from his SUV and strapped him to a backboard, Noble cried, according to the report, and asked how badly the other accident victims were hurt. "Mr. Noble still crying began to apologize and stated he and his wife had an argument earlier," Purcell wrote.

Blood samples drawn from Noble at the scene showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.22 percent, according to State Patrol documents released Wednesday. A reading of 0.08 percent is considered evidence of intoxication.

The two women in the other vehicle were treated for broken bones. Noble, who was more seriously injured, suffered internal injuries and underwent surgery at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to the State Patrol. A hospital spokeswoman said Wednesday that Noble was a patient in the hospital for several weeks, but declined to say exactly when he left.

The Jan. 18 accident wasn't reported in the media until Tuesday of this week.

The state Attorney General's Office will decide whether to file a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence and two felony charges of vehicular assault. The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office asked the Attorney General's Office to take over the case in order to avoid a conflict of interest; the prosecuting attorney represents the Assessor's Office in civil matters.

Noble did not return calls to his office and his home, and his attorney, John W. Wolfe, declined to answer questions about the case. Wolfe said Wednesday he was "shocked" by the Patrol's release of what he described as confidential information.

The standard sentencing range for vehicular assault is three to nine months in jail, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the county prosecutor. If Noble is convicted of that felony, he would lose his right to vote and run for office.

Donohoe said he didn't know whether a conviction would require Noble to step down from the position to which he was first elected in 1992. Noble was re-elected in 2007.

Noble's chief deputy, Rich Medved, said Wednesday the assessor has been working from home. "Operations are going on absolutely as normal. Scott's involved on a daily basis. He's still making all the primary decisions," Medved said.

No one answered the door when Seattle Times reporters visited there Tuesday night and Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for County Executive Ron Sims declined to comment on the accident or Noble's political future.

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, a friend of Noble's since high school, said he didn't know of the incident until the news broke this week. He said he hadn't yet spoken to Noble and wouldn't talk about the incident.

Two political consultants said it's time for Noble to go.

"This is one of those offices that most people don't know about," said consultant Cathy Allen, like Noble a Democrat. "The way they get to remember it is if the guy in it really screwed up by putting himself and others in a dire situation by going the wrong way on the freeway. I would say the best thing he could do is step down."

Said Republican consultant Brett Bader, "Thank goodness no one was killed. The behavior was completely inappropriate or irresponsible, and it further underscores how serious that kind of crime is. I don't expect him to hold onto that office very long. I would expect him to step aside."

County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer offered no advice for Noble. "My prayers are with the three known victims of that night, the two who were in the other car and Scott Noble. I hope he can find a solution for his problem," he said.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com