Watch CBS News

Two City Council Employees Facing DUI Charges

By Jenn Bernstein and Suzanne Monaghan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Investigators say an aide for the Philadelphia City Council President and a Sergeant-at-arms are under arrest and facing charges following a crash early Saturday morning in the city's Spring Garden section.

Investigators say 50-year-old Robin Jones, who is an aide to council president Darrell Clarke and 42-year-old Sergeant-at-arms Rodney Williams are charged with DUI.

"To say that I'm pissed off would be an understatement," Clarke said.

PHOTOS: From The Scene

Police say Jones lost control of her city-owned vehicle and crashed into a street sign followed by the side of a building at 13th and Hamilton Streets around 4:45 a.m.

She told police she was trying to avoid a bicyclist.

Police say Jones then called her friend Williams, who also showed up.

Authorities say Williams began to argue with police and they say Jones may have been driving with a suspended license.

Police arrested both city employees believing they were driving while under the influence . Both Jones and Williams were in separate city-owned vehicles, ones the City Council president says they shouldn't have been in.

"I'm very disappointed," Clarke said. "I've known both of those individuals for a few years.  I just don't know what was going on in their minds, they thought it was appropriate to take city vehicles unauthorized and there's allegations that they had been drinking.  It's just unfathomable."

While the police conduct their investigation, Clarke says the city will have to deal with the rest.

"People must have their day in court, as it relates to the DUI incidents, but at the end of the day, to take two vehicles unauthorized, that's an offense that is punishable by termination."

Clarke says he will await the full investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department before taking action.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.