The Associated Press
No charges for emergency manager in bridge collapse

SPOKANE, Wash. — The Homeland Security coordinator for 10 Eastern Washington counties has been fired, three weeks after he was arrested for investigation of drunken driving in Stevens County.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezvoich confirmed to The Spokesman-Review that he fired David L. Byrnes on Oct. 30 "for violating sheriff's office rules and regulations."

The 64-year-old Byrnes was arrested Oct. 8, and dismissed after an internal investigation by the sheriff's office.

Court records say he was driving his personal vehicle when arrested, pleaded not guilty to DUI on Oct. 27 and is awaiting a trial date.

Court filings show Byrnes also was arrested for investigation of DUI on Feb. 23, 2007, in Spokane County. A month later that charge was reduced to reckless endangerment.

As Homeland Security coordinator, Byrnes oversaw the distribution of more than $16 million in grants to Spokane, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Adams, Whitman, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties.