Canyon County, Idaho, is one of those towns small enough for officers in a random police cruiser to notice when a fire truck has no real need to be rushing someplace. That’s how things took a turn for the worse for 30-year-old Winston Goering III, grandson to a former Nampa mayor whose name he has now sullied with a drunken jaunt in a stolen fire truck.

Surprised that they hadn’t heard of any emergency situations, Canyon County deputies called their dispatcher when the truck hurled by them in the late-night hours, all sirens and lights. When the dispatcher confirmed no emergencies had been called in, the deputies followed the truck as it crossed county lines, took a few turnabouts in a market parking lot, then headed back onto the highway.

After about 30 minutes, police pulled the truck over and arrested Goering without incident. According to deputies, Goering’s blood/alcohol levels were twice the legal limit. He has been charged with joyriding and DUI.

» Scott Saxon