Democrat Rule arrested on DWI charge

Herb Rule's mug shot of Aug. 10, 2012. Courtesy of the Washington County sheriff's office.
Herb Rule's mug shot of Aug. 10, 2012. Courtesy of the Washington County sheriff's office.

— A Democrat running for the 2nd District has been arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated, authorities said.

Herb Rule, 74, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, was arrested Thursday in Fayetteville.

According to a police report, Rule was driving a white Lexus stopped about 10 p.m. after police spotted it drifting into the wrong lane, turning without using a signal and operating below the speed limit.

The report from the Fayetteville Police Department says the vehicle was stopped at 4007 N. Shiloh. There, Rule was "verbally unwilling to cooperate with my instructions," the officer wrote, adding Rule and the vehicle smelled of "intoxicating beverages."

Police say Rule failed a series of field sobriety tests and was then transported to jail, where he "refused to sign any paperwork and refused to submit to a BAC test."

Rule was charged with improper lane use, failure to use signal device, driving while intoxicated and violation of the implied consent law, the report said.

Messages left with his campaign and a number listed on his financial disclosure reports were not immediately returned.

An official at the Washington County Jail said Rule has subsequently been released. An online inmate roster shows Rule with court appearances scheduled Friday and Aug. 27.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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