Allegations surface that Detroit Councilman Scott Benson drove drunk

July 01--Detroit City Councilman Scott Benson was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he was found slumped over in the driver's seat of his city-issued car in Southfield, according to reports by police and his lawyer Monday.

Southfield Deputy Chief Nick Loussia said police received a call at 7:30 p.m. Sunday about a man slumped over in his vehicle at a stoplight on the southbound Southfield Service Drive, north of 8 Mile. He confirmed that a 44-year-old Detroit man was arrested and jailed for operating a vehicle while intoxicated on Sunday, but wouldn't confirm the man's name.

Benson's attorney, Philip Ragan, however, confirmed Monday that the man was his client and said the first-term councilman is "very apologetic for this distraction."

Ragan said he still is gathering the facts to fully understand the allegations against Benson.

"Scott's only concern is the citizens of the city of Detroit and trying to move the city forward," Ragan said.

Loussia said officers got a search warrant for a blood draw, which was taken at a hospital. He said police will forward a warrant request to the city attorney's office after receiving results from the blood test, which he said can take up to 30 days.

Benson was released Monday after posting a $500 personal bond, said Melvin (Butch) Hollowell, corporation counsel for the City of Detroit. Benson was alone in the vehicle.

Police impounded Benson's city-issued 2008 Ford Crown Victoria during the incident. The city is in the process of reclaiming the vehicle and will "keep the keys until this matter gets resolved," Hollowell said.

Council members who are issued city-owned cars are allowed to use them on a 24-hour basis for city business and for personal use within 50 miles of the city. When driving city cars, officials are required to follow state and local traffic laws. The city's policy specifies that those issued a city car cannot drive it while under the influence. Officials can lose the privilege of driving a city car if the rules are broken.

After allegations surfaced that Benson was arrested, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and City Council President Brenda Jones issued a joint statement Monday morning.

"We have recently learned that misdemeanor charges are being sought against Councilman Scott Benson," Duggan and Jones said in the statement. "We have no first-hand facts about the matter and we will not speculate. Instead, we will let the judicial system proceed in its normal course. In the meantime, we will remain focused on getting the city's business done."

Benson was not at Monday morning's Public Health and Safety Standing Committee meeting. He chairs the committee.

Benson's office said Monday that no one was available for comment. Benson sent a text message Monday afternoon indicating he would be issuing a statement soon.

According to the Secretary of State's Office, Benson's driver's license was suspended in 2011 for failing to comply with the judgment on a no proof of insurance ticket. The suspension was terminated in 2013, according to the agency.

Benson, whose parents were public school teachers, received an undergraduate degree from Hampton University and a master's degree in urban planning from Wayne State University. He served 22 years in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins, who chaired Monday's public health and safety committee meeting in Benson's absence, said the incident is an unfortunate distraction.

"As a Detroiter, as a resident, as a council member, I'm always concerned with any issue that takes away from our ability to be laser-focused on improving our city and the quality of life for the people who live here," Jenkins said after the meeting. "Even without a bankruptcy, our job is to be here every day committed to moving the city forward, so whenever there are distractions, it makes it more difficult to do."

Benson is the second council member this year to have a run-in with police.

In January, Detroit police stopped the council's second-ranking member, George Cushingberry Jr., after he pulled out of the parking lot of the Penthouse Lounge bar and restaurant on Livernois without using a turn signal.

Officers said they smelled marijuana in Cushingberry's car and found an empty bottle of rum that the councilman said had been in the car for at least a week and not consumed that evening.

Police later determined Cushingberry was not intoxicated and issued him a ticket for failure to signal.

Contact Matt Helms: 313-222-1450 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @matthelms.

___

(c)2014 the Detroit Free Press

Visit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services