OLYMPIA, Wash., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A man facing felony charges in Washington state for an alleged drunken high speed police chase received permission from a judge to attend the Super Bowl.
Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon signed an order Thursday to allow Shaun Goodman, 42, to fly Friday to New Jersey to attend the Feb. 2 game between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, the Tacoma News Tribune reported Friday.
"Defendant has what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see his hometown team play in the Super Bowl," read the petition filed by Goodman attorney Paul Strophy.
Goodman was arrested Dec. 29 by Olympia police after he allegedly led officers on a high-speed chase through the city that ended with Goodman crashing his vehicle into a house and a parked car before coming to a stop in a church parking lot. Police said Goodman had a passenger who begged him to stop the car during the chase and eventually jumped from the moving vehicle when it was traveling at a slower speed.
Goodman, who allegedly led police on a foot chase after his engine gave out, was allegedly drunk at the time of the incident. He is facing charges of felony eluding a police officer as well as misdemeanor DUI and hit-and-run.
"It is common for judges to allow defendants to travel out of state when they are low risk to the community, and when necessary precautions are taken to make sure that there is low risk to community safety," Strophy said.
