Former city councillor arrested for DWI

LAWRENCE, Ind. (WISH) - A former city-county councillor was arrested late Friday evening for driving while intoxicated in Lawrence, police reports state.

Police say they pulled over a 4-door Cadillac driven by Ron Franklin, 59 during a traffic stop near Tolliston Boulevard and Kensworth Drive.

During the traffic stop, the officer said they could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Franklin’s breath.

As Franklin was telling police he was driving home, they noticed signs of intoxication and began to perform sobriety tests, which Franklin failed.

The officer then began to investigate inside Franklin’s car, where he found a clear glass with a liquid inside that he said smelled like alcohol.

Police reports state that Franklin said to the officers that, “He works for the ‘same team’; I work for the same court.”

Franklin went on to tell the officer arresting him that he would make the officer a sergeant if he took him home, police reports stated.

All of the statements regarding working a deal out in order to not be arrested were recorded on video and audio tapes.

Franklin was charged with Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, public intoxication, failing to signal for a required distance, and lane violations, according to police reports.