An aide for the Philadelphia City Council President and a Sergeant-at-arms were arrested after a car accident in the Spring Garden section of the city, according to investigators.
Police say Robin Jones, 50, crashed her vehicle into a pole and then a wall on North 13th and Hamilton Streets shortly after 2:30 Saturday morning. Investigators say Jones is an aide to Philadelphia City Council President Darrell L. Clarke. She was not injured.
Jones called Rodney Williams, 41, who police say is a Sergeant-at-arms for the Philadelphia City Council, to pick her up. After Williams arrived, police took both into custody after they were suspected of being intoxicated. Investigators say they were both driving city-owned vehicles. Jones is charged with DUI and driving with a suspended license. She was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled for court on October 11.
Williams is charged with DUI and also released on his own recognizance. He's scheduled for court on October 11.
NBC 10 obtained exclusive video from the crash and spoke to people who arrived on the scene moments after the accident.
Council President Clarke released the following statement regarding the arrests:
I have been informed by the Philadelphia Police Department that two City Council employees face possible DUI charges following incidents involving City-owned vehicles early this morning.
The employees, one a receptionist and the other a Sergeant-at-Arms, were not authorized to use the City-owned vehicles at the time of the incidents. These acts, if confirmed by the authorities, display a level of conduct and disregard for public safety that cannot be tolerated.
I await the results of a full investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department and will take appropriate action.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
No one was seriously injured in the accident, according to investigators.
On Monday, NBC10 spoke with Clarke's communication director about the arrests. The director claimed both suspects knew where the keys to the city vehicles were held and took them without permission.
Clarke also held a press conference at 3 p.m.
"If somebody understands where the key is and they just simply go and take the key, that's illegal," said Clarke. "I'm told I'm not supposed to use the term 'stealing the key,' so I won't use it officially. But if somebody decides to take the key, there's not much you can do about that."
