The Kansas State Senate Majority Leader is facing a drunk driving charge and a charge of attempting to escape police after several people report driving down the wrong side of a highway.
Gene Suellentrop (R) reportedly drove an SUV down the wrong side of a highway in Topeka, Kan on March 16.
The lawmaker was charged on Friday with a DUI, reckless driving, a felony for dodging the police, speeding and driving down the wrong side of a highway, ABC News reported
The felony is punishable by probation of one year or a few months in jail, a DUI is 100 hours of service or two days in prison, and a reckless driving charge is a $ 500 fine and a five to 90 day jail term.
Suellentrop is currently in prison on $ 5,000 bail.
“They almost hit me, but I’m fine. I am fine. They’re not near me, but they’re going the wrong way, ”said a person who called the emergency center to report the incident. “I mean, they weren’t driving recklessly – I’m not trying to say they’re driving recklessly – but they were in the wrong lane, and it’s just, they met me coming up the driveway and scared me.”
Mike Kagay, the Republican district attorney in Shawnee County, said police officers placed “ stop sticks ” on the road to deflate the vehicle’s tires, with an officer saying Suellentrop nearly hit them.
Suellentrop was arrested the night of the incident, but the judge found there was not enough in the arrest report to keep him in jail, ABC News said.
“We are grateful that no one was injured,” said Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Vice President Rick Wilborn. “We keep praying for Gene and his family.”
The Hill has contacted Suellentrop’s office for comment.