A Jonesboro city councilman was released from the Clayton County Jail late Thursday after being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol earlier in the day.
Councilman Joe Compton, who has served for three years in Jonesboro, appeared in court with his attorney earlier Thursday. A bond request for the DUI charge initially was denied after the court revealed a prior DUI arrest nearly 25 years ago, according to Channel 2 Action News. The circumstances surrounding Compton’s release, including any bond amount, were not immediately available.
Jail records, and a call to the jail, confirmed Compton was released at 9:38 p.m. Thursday. Efforts were being made to reache Compton’s attorney, James Studdard, for comment.
Bond was set for two other offences in the incident that led to his arrest, improper lane change and leaving the scene of an accident.
Compton’s blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit when he crashed into a neighbor’s mailbox late Wednesday, according to Channel 2.
“It scared the heck out of me,” said Debbie Glavin, a neighbor who witnessed the incident from her front yard. “I seen him come up and seen him jump the curb and heard the ‘Pow!’ I had no idea who he was.”
Compton knocked the brick mailbox off its base a few doors away from his home on Arnold Place, police said. Glavin told Channel 2 Compton left the scene and drove to his home. She said her husband confronted him and they eventually called the police, who arrested him.
His truck — with “Joe Compton city councilman” signs on it — sustained a banged-up fender and a flat tire.
Because Compton is a city official, Jonesboro police called in Clayton County police to handle the investigation.
