The Daily Wire has reported that Fort Wayne, Indiana’s Democratic mayor has acknowledged that alcohol was a factor in his recent car accident.
Mayor: “I accept full responsibility for my actions”
The website noted that Mayor Tom Henry was booked in the Allen County Jail before being released Sunday morning on his own recognizance.
Henry then went on to issue a statement via Twitter in which he admitted to consuming alcohol “at a local function” prior to driving home.
I want to apologize to the residents of Fort Wayne and my family for the poor decision I made to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking at a local function. I accept full responsibility for my actions.
— Mayor Tom Henry (@MayorTomHenry) October 9, 2022
“I’m relieved that no one was hurt in this incident,” Henry continued, adding, “The Fort Wayne Police Department handled this situation with professionalism and followed all of the correct procedures and protocols.”
Local CBS affiliate WANE noted that Henry released another statement on Sunday in which he spoke of being “terribly embarrassed by the poor decision-making that occurred last evening.”
“I am sorry that I put our police department in that situation last evening,” the mayor stressed. “I knew better… I will be held accountable for those actions in future legal proceedings. I respect our legal process, and I will adhere to decisions made by our court, and I will accept those consequences.”
“As your mayor, I will not hide from my actions, nor will I make excuses. But today I ask that you please respect my inability to speak to the facts of the matter until I am fairly and appropriately adjudicated,” he concluded.
According to WANE, a police affidavit said that upon arriving at the scene, officers noted Henry’s watery, bloodshot eyes along with his flushed face and slurred speech. His blood alcohol concentration was found to be .152%.
Henry’s Republican opponent encourages residents to pray for mayor
Henry is running for a fifth next year against Republican Fort Wayne city council member Tom Didier, who released a statement of his own.
“I have known the Henry family for much of my life,” WANE quoted Didier as saying. “Cindy Henry actually was one of the first people to encourage me to run for public office.”
“These relationships go beyond politics. I would encourage everyone to pray for them and all those involved in this accident and I hope that no one was seriously harmed.”