If you drive for about 12 hours northeast of Edinburg, you will come to the small town of Waldo, Arkansas. The town of a little more than 1,000 residents is just 10 miles from manmade Lake Columbia, famous for its large-mouth bass fishing.
A former police chief for Waldo was recently arrested a Texas Parks and Wildlife officers. The former cop reportedly tried to claim at first that he was still a chief of police and then told the arresting officers that he was a special investigator. Apparently neither story had the desired effect; he was charged with driving while intoxicated and having an open container of alcohol in a moving vehicle.
The 52-year-old former police chief was stopped after the game warden reportedly observed him driving at a high rate of speed in the wrong direction. He was also apparently observed crossing the center line while driving the wrong way.
The arresting officers claimed the former chief smelled of alcohol, slurred his speech and had red, watery eyes. He said he had just left his daughter’s graduation party, where he drank one beer.
The former chief was fired from his position in 2015 for unspecified reasons. Regardless, he allegedly told the arresting officers that he was still chief and then amended the story, claiming to be an investigator with the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
He was unwilling to perform a sobriety test, according to a news report.
We do not know what his current employment status might be, but we do know that in many similar situations, a DWI arrest and conviction can do serious harm to a person’s career and future employment opportunities.
An experienced Edinburg criminal defense attorney can help you protect your rights, freedom and career.