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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife resident who twice got behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated, once with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit, was sentenced to nine months in jail on Tuesday.

David Tymchyshyn, 27, was also sentenced for evading police and failing to appear in court.

Tymchyshyn's first drunk driving offence, to which he pleaded guilty, occurred on Jan. 16, 2008 in the area of Old Airport Road. Crown prosecutor John MacFarlane said a bystander flagged down a passing RCMP car to alert them to a drunk driver.

Tymchyshyn was pulled over by police and told officers he had perhaps been drinking too much to be driving, said MacFarlane.

He said police asked Tymchyshyn for his documentation and instead he "produced what appeared to be a tool."

He was brought into the RCMP detachment and twice was caught drinking water, which reduces blood-alcohol levels, from the tap in the bathroom.

He was given a breathalyser test and found to be "at or above three times the legal limit," said MacFarlane.

On Feb. 10, 2008, Tymchyshyn was again found driving while intoxicated. A call came into police concerning a vehicle that had left the Monkey Tree Pub at an accelerated speed and was fishtailing all over the road. Police stopped the vehicle and arrested Tymchyshyn, who had a suspended licence from the previous arrest. As well, police found on him "a small baggie that turned out to be marijuana," said MacFarlane. Tymchyshyn subsequently failed to appear in court twice after that, the last time being in July.

He was arrested again on Jan. 1, 2009 at a residence in Yellowknife. MacFarlane said police got a call about a man "trying to fight everyone."

He was very intoxicated and in the driveway when RCMP arrived, said MacFarlane.

"He ran from police," he said. "RCMP caught up with him and pulled him to the ground."

"You were attempting to evade justice," said Judge Robert Gorin.

Tymchyshyn has been in custody since that time.

Gorin said due to repeated breaches, Tymchyshyn would get only one month credit for the approximate one month he has spent in remand. Usually individuals receive a two-for-one credit for remand, giving them additional time off their sentence.

Tymchyshyn was sentenced to a total of nine months in jail and fines totalling $600. He will not be permitted to drive for the next three years.