Kip Powick Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 PORT HURON, Michigan -- An off-duty Northwest Airlines pilot was suspected of driving under the influence of cocaine when he headed the wrong way on an interstate to avoid the U.S.-Canada border and led deputies on a chase, authorities said Sunday. Investigators said Walter L. Dinalko, a veteran pilot of 20 years, had flown to Detroit Metropolitan Airport Saturday afternoon and then rented a Hummer that he drove about 70 miles to Port Huron. Dinalko turned around three times on the Blue Water Bridge, apparently changing his mind about heading into Sarnia, Ontario, said St. Clair County sheriff's Lt. A.J. Foster. He then drove on the wrong side of the bridge and Interstate 94, Foster said. U.S. Customs agents alerted sheriff's deputies, who closed down the expressway and gave chase, Foster said. Deputies laid down stop sticks, which flattened the Hummer's tires. Dinalko stopped but refused to surrender to deputies, Foster said. "He started giving them a hard time, and a tussle ensued," Foster said. Deputies subdued him and found suspected cocaine on the floor of the vehicle and in Dinalko's pocket, the lieutenant said. Dinalko, 50, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was taken to a hospital for a drug test before he was taken to jail, said sheriff's Lt. Jim DeLacy. "He appeared to be highly under the influence of narcotics," said DeLacy, who was on the scene of the arrest. DeLacy said a "user's quantity" of a substance suspected to be cocaine was found in the vehicle, including one opened package and one sealed package. Toxicology tests on a sample of the pilot's blood were pending, DeLacy said. Dinalko was arraigned Sunday on charges of cocaine possession, eluding police, resisting officers and operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs, DeLacy said. He was released Sunday after posting $10,000 bond. A message seeking comment was left Sunday at a telephone listing for Dinalko. Shawn Brumbaugh, a spokeswoman for Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest Airlines Corp., confirmed that Dinalko was an off-duty Northwest employee but declined further comment. Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Popular Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conehead Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 Toxicology tests on a sample of the pilot's blood were pending, DeLacy said. I guess the authorities are allowed to take a blood sample down there? Doesn't sound like the guy would have given one willingly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEFCON Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 It's all management's fault!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deicer Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 It's all management's fault!!! Or maybe the guy is just a.................... Pilot Iceman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flapsforty Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 Well at least he wasn't drinking Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon The Loon Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 Well at least he wasn't drinking Cheers It's difficult at times not to laugh at someone else's misfortunes, but this guy is pushing my limits. I saw the footage of the vehicle after the arrest. He musta thought he was the reincarnation of Hunter S. Thompson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airband Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 Or maybe the guy is just a.................... Pilot Fortunately, NWA has some dedicated ground employees who can offset the pilot antics. Off-duty NWA Worker Charged with Assault for In-flight Incident March 5, 2007 By Joy Powell, Star Tribune An off-duty Northwest Airlines employee was arrested Monday after he allegedly touched a female passenger as she tried to sleep and ejaculated on her, according to a complaint filed in federal court in Minneapolis. Samuel Oscar Gonzalez, 20, of Lakewood, Wash., was charged with simple assault, a misdemeanor, in U.S. District Court, where he made an initial appearance Monday night. He was in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and was being held in the Sherburne County jail. The incident was reported just before dawn on Flight 154, a red-eye flight from Seattle to Minneapolis. Later Monday, Northwest Airlines said in a statement that an equipment service employee, traveling as a passenger on the flight, has been suspended pending a review of the incident. It declined to provide other details, except to say it is cooperating with law enforcement. Equipment service employees handle customer bags, de-ice airplanes and other tasks. The flight left Seattle at 12:44 a.m. and arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at 5:35 a.m. Late in the flight, the complaint says, a female passenger told airline attendants and the FBI that she was in her aisle seat, trying to sleep, when a man moved into the middle seat next to her. He began touching her in a way that she described as "spooning," the complaint says. She felt her shirt move up her back followed by some additional touching, and then the man got up and walked toward the forward part of the plane. When the woman reached to adjust her shirt, the complaint says, she discovered warm fluid, which she described as semen, on her back, side, clothing and a seat. The woman notified a flight attendant and identified Gonzalez. The woman was moved to another seat for the rest of the flight and attendants notified Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport police, who met with the woman and detained Gonzalez after the plane landed. "I've never heard of anything like this happening before," said Pat Hogan, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Airports Commission. "Not in the six and a half years I've been at the Airports Commission." Chris Kawater, assistant chief of the U.S. Marshals Office in Minneapolis, said that in his 24 years of service, he had never heard of such a case. FBI agent Michael Cannizzaro, one of two airport liaison agents, alleged in the complaint that Gonzalez had "knowingly and intentionally committed a simple assault." That offense is punishable by up to six months in jail and a possible fine. The risk of disease transmission in such a situation is remote, said one expert. "It's not likely to be any risk at all, even if you were looking at the standard agents like HIV, hepatitis B or herpes," said Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the U of M's Center for Infectious Disease, Research and Policy. He said to become infected, a person would have to have a wide-open fresh cut or have the fluids come in contact with mucous membranes. Equipment service employees are covered by a union contract. Stephen Gordon, an official with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, declined to comment on Monday. All new Northwest employees must meet certain federal government and company employment standards, NWA spokesman Bill Mellon said Monday night. But he declined to specify what type of background checks might be performed before ground workers are hired. Northwest did not explain precisely how it is equipped to handle assaults that might occur between passengers or passengers and crew. "For security reasons, we don't discuss the handling of in-flight incidents," Mellon said. "But our flight attendants and pilots are trained to handle issues that might arise during a flight." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handyman Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 I have no sympathy for an individual on drugs. Glad he is caught and charged like he should be. Zero tolerance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super 80 Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 What page was narcotics traffiking on in the offical NWA guide to suplementing your income? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagger Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 What page was narcotics traffiking on in the offical NWA guide to suplementing your income? Right after scavaging from dumpsters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conehead Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 Ohmygod, that was too funny! I'm tired after a long day at work... and then I read this thread..... almost fell off the chair laughing so hard..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyBlazer Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 What a wanker ! SB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 What a wanker ! SB Pun intended?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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