A Virginia mayor’s attempt to oversee a train derailment ended in his own arrest this week after authorities say he showed up to the emergency scene intoxicated.
Rich Creek Mayor Paul Morrison, 57, was taken into custody Tuesday, April 28, near the West Virginia border. Deputies from the Giles County Sheriff’s Office arrested Morrison on suspicion of public intoxication while emergency crews were busy managing a dozen derailed train cars.
The incident began late Tuesday afternoon when a 911 call at 4:52 p.m. reported that a train carrying soybean oil had hopped the tracks near Glen Lyn. While the non-hazardous oil leaked slightly, officials confirmed the spill was contained and no injuries were reported.
However, the scene took a turn when Morrison arrived. Video footage showed the mayor in a plaid shirt interacting with first responders before he was eventually led away in handcuffs.
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Jail records indicate Morrison was processed and later released on his own recognizance. By Thursday, the town’s Facebook page carried a formal apology from the mayor, who was elected last November via a write-in campaign.
“I would like to offer apologies for my state and any actions on 04/28 at the railroad incident. I regret any inconvenience as well as embarrassment this may have caused,” Morrison said in the statement.
He followed up by telling his constituents, “I am truly sorry to have let you down and can assure you that nothing like this will happen again.”
The Town of Rich Creek, a community of about 700 people, has stated that no further comments will be made regarding the arrest. Meanwhile, investigators are still working to determine exactly why the soybean oil shipment went off the rails.
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