By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

Bonney Lake Municipal Court Judge Douglas H. Haake ruled in court Wednesday that Pacific Police Chief John T. Calkins will stand trial Jan. 26 for the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

During a Nov. 3 hearing, Ken Fornabai, Calkins’ attorney, requested that the judge suppress evidence of the chief’s refusal to take a field-sobriety test and a blood test. The attorney also made a motion to dismiss the case.

The chief was arrested at 10:30 p.m. Aug. 5 by Bonney Lake police officers and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

According to a “finding of facts” document provided by the court, a woman reported to police the Corvette driven by Calkins was “all over the road.”

A Bonney Lake officer stopped Calkins on the eastbound offramp to Sumner-Tapps Highway from state Route 410.

Calkins refused a field sobriety test at the scene. According to the documents the officer could smell “a moderate odor of alcohol” on Calkins’ breath; it was also noted that Calkins’ face was flushed and his eyes were watery.

Calkins breathes through a stoma - a surgical opening in his throat for the treatment of cancer of the larynx. He was unable to produce a valid breath-test sample after two attempts. He refused to give a blood sample.

Calkins did not comment on case following the hearing, but said he was still the police chief of Pacific.

Reach Dennis Box at dbox@courierherald.com or 360-802-8209.