Congressman Captures Drunk-Driving Suspect

For Rep. Elton Gallegly, the fight to get drunk drivers off the street has taken on a distinctly personal flavor.

After a motorcyclist sideswiped his new car Friday, Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) chased the man, forced him to the side of the road and held him until police arrived.

The motorcyclist, Roy Kinman Jr., 42, of Moorpark, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, said Simi Valley Police Lt. Jon Ainsworth. Kinman was later released on his own recognizance, Ainsworth said.

“We don’t encourage people to risk their lives, but we’re thankful when anyone can help us apprehend a drunken driver,” he said.

Ainsworth said Kinman’s blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit of 0.10%.

Gallegly said the incident began shortly after he had left his Simi Valley home to go Christmas shopping. He was waiting at a traffic light at Royal Avenue and Sinaloa Road about 3:30 p.m. when a motorcyclist sideswiped the left side of his car, he said.

“It knocked him over,” Gallegly said. “But he regained his composure, then the light turned green and he took off.”

Gallegly called police on his car phone and began following the motorcycle as it weaved in and out of traffic, he said. A traffic jam on Royal Avenue slowed the motorcyclist and enabled Gallegly to force him to the side of the road, Gallegly said.

“The first thing he says to me is, ‘I didn’t hit you that hard,’ ” Gallegly said. “I said, ‘That’s not the point; it appears you have been drinking.’ ”

Gallegly said the damage to his car was minimal.

He said the incident reminded him of a slogan he coined during the 7 years he served as mayor of Simi Valley before becoming a congressman in 1987.

“We had a saying then: ‘There’s only two types of drunken drivers in this town--those in jail and those on their way to jail,’ ” Gallegly said.