Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
HELPER — Mayor Dean Lee Armstrong plans to stay on as mayor and says he regrets an incident last month in which he is accused of driving while under the influence.
Armstrong, 45, told police he drank a few Bloody Marys on Nov. 16 when he was stopped after his car rolled through a stop sign on Main Street in Price.
"(We) pulled that individual over and smelled an odor of alcohol coming from the subject's breath," said Duane Baird of the Utah Highway Patrol.
The trooper asked to see Armstrong's drivers license, but Armstrong said he did not have it with him.
A Utah Highway Patrol report said Armstrong, who has since pleaded not guilty in the case, told troopers, "I am not going to be able to walk the test," when he was being instructed on aspects of a field sobriety test.
(We) pulled that individual over and smelled an odor of alcohol coming from the subject's breath.
–Duane Baird
"I'm going to stand down. Take me in," he said, according to the report.
The trooper found an open bottle of vodka in the vehicle, which the officer poured out onto the road.
Mayor Armstrong was taken to jail and charged with driving under the influence, violating traffic laws and an open container.
Armstrong's attorney, David Allred, said the incident was unfortunate, but Armstrong plans to stay on as mayor.
State court records show Armstrong was convicted in July 1991 of DUI, a class B misdemeanor, in Salt Lake City Justice Court. A charge of negligent collision was dismissed.
---
Written by Amy Joi O'Donoghue and Jennifer Stagg.
