Tennessee lawmaker arrested on drunken driving charge
NASHVILLE — A freshman state lawmaker from Nashville was charged with drunken driving and violation of the implied consent law after a traffic stop early Friday morning.
Nashville police stopped Rep. Bill Beck and arrested him after he declined to complete a roadside sobriety or a breath alcohol test. Beck is a first-term Democrat who represents portions of downtown and eastern Nashville. “I am innocent, and I will be vigorously contesting the charge s ,” Beck said in a written statement. “I look forwa r d to continuing to serve the people of the 51st District and fighting each and every day on their behalf.”
The arresting police officer said in an affidavit that Beck’s truck was traveling with two wheels in the turn lane and that the lawmaker had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.
“I asked Mr. Beck to get out of the truck and noticed a stain on his tie, his shirt was half tucked in, and his pants were unzipped,” Metro Police Off icer Bradley Nave wrote in the affidavit.
Beck initially agreed to perform a series of field sobriety tests, the affidavit said, but the lawmaker did not want to continue when he was asked to walk and turn. Beck, the officer wrote, did not want to submit to a breath test.
The lawmaker told the officer he had not had any alcohol to drink. WKRNTV talked to Beck about 6 a.m. Friday after he was released from the jail.
“Don’t believe that I’m guilty,” Beck told the news station. “Had a long day.”
In 2011, Rep. Curry Todd, best known as the sponsor of a state law allowing people with handgun- carry permits to be armed in bars and restaurants, was arrested in Nashville in a traffic stop. Todd failed a sobriety test and police found a loaded .38-caliber gun stuffed between the driver’s seat and center console. He later pleaded guilty to drunken driving and gun charges, but has twice been re-elected since.
“I ASKED MR. BECK TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK AND NOTICED A STAIN ON HIS TIE, HIS SHIRT WAS HALF TUCKED IN, AND HIS PANTS WERE UNZIPPED.” — WRITTEN IN THE AFFIDAVIT BY METRO POLICE OFFICER BRADLEY NAVE