Near collision with police vehicle leads to Eufaula mayor’s arrest

By Keith Purtell
Phoenix Staff Writer

August 19, 2008 12:16 am

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Eufaula Mayor Robert Dean Smith almost ran into a police patrol car, according to information released Monday by the Eufaula Police Department.
Smith was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and transporting an open container of low-point beer.
Eufaula Police Chief Don Murray said Smith was southbound at the intersection of U.S. 69 and Business 69 when the incident occurred.
“I just know that Officer Jeff January had to hit his brakes very hard to avoid a collision,” he said.
Murray said Smith was stopped for failure to yield to oncoming traffic. But January noticed alcohol in Smith’s car, leading to his arrest.
The arrest took place at 4:30 a.m. Smith was booked into the McIntosh County Jail at 6:55 a.m. and paid a $500 bond to be released at 12:02 p.m.
The McIntosh County Court Clerk’s office said more information was not available because they were waiting on the arrival of records.