APD report: Clayton Commissioner Wole Ralph smelled of alcohol

Print
E-mail

By Christian Boone

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Clayton County Commission Vice Chair Wole Ralph's car was straddling a median, causing sparks to fly, before he was pulled over early Saturday morning by Atlanta police, according to the incident report.

Wole campaign photo Commissioner Wole Ralph: "I am not guilty of these violations and I look forward to resolving this matter in court."

More Atlanta area news »

The report detailing Ralph's arrest, released Tuesday by the APD, contradicts the commissioner's assertion that he was not driving while intoxicated.

Police say they first spotted Ralph's red Ford Mustang swerve from the right lane into the left after pulling out of the parking lot of a southwest Atlanta nightclub. According to the report, Ralph, 33, abruptly changed lanes a second time on Metropolitan Parkway before eventually ending up on the median "causing the vehicle's lower carriage to be violently dragged."

The arresting officers pulled Ralph over. He repeatedly refused to turn off his vehicle, the report states, telling them, "I don't have to do that, I didn't do anything wrong." Finally, the officers ordered him out of his car. Once again, Ralph ignored their requests, according to the report.

"While speaking with Mr. Ralph I noticed that his eyes were obviously glassy and had a bloodshot appearance, his speech was also extremely slurred," one of the officers wrote.

Ralph then began digging inside the middle console of his vehicle, and the officers attempted to pull the commissioner out of the car. A prolonged struggle ensued before Ralph was finally subdued, according to the report. Ralph allegedly told them he was a police commissioner.

The officers said they could smell "an overwhelming odor of alcohol coming from Mr. Ralph's breath." He refused a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer exam, the report states.

Ralph, released on a $4,300 bond, was charged with DUI, obstruction, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane.

"I deeply regret this occurrence," Ralph said in a statement issued Monday on Board of Commissioners stationery. "I am not guilty of these violations and I look forward to resolving this matter in court."

Fellow commissioners Sonna Singleton and Gail Hambrick issued a joint statement Sunday in support of Ralph, saying he "has worked tirelessly and unselfishly in service to the people of Clayton County."

Ralph was elected to his first term at age 26 , making him the youngest county commissioner in Georgia at the time, according to the county's website.

The AJC has left a voice mail for Ralph seeking comment on the report.