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City Worker Accused Of Driving Drunk To Inaugural Claims Sobriety
By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 3, 2010
Modified Jan 3, 2010
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By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 3, 2010
Modified Jan 3, 2010
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An attorney representing the Department of Homeless Services driver who was pulled over for drunk driving on his way to Mayor Bloomberg's inauguration says his client was sober. Nathaniel Chambers was headed to pick up Commissioner Robert Hess and bring him to the City Hall inaugural when he was pulled over at the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge toll plaza and charged with DWI — his second since he started at the agency nine years ago.
"My client adamantly denies he was intoxicated and adamantly denies he was drinking," defense lawyer Sidney Lester told the judge, according to the Daily News. Lester added that Chambers "has had some problems in the past, but he's straightened out his life."
But law enforcement officials allege that the 45-year-old — who reportedly turned belligerent when officers asked him to take a field sobriety test — was too drunk to stand. Prosecutors say that Chambers attempted to pay cash in an E-ZPass lane, and according to previous reports the driver attempted to flash a red light on his dashboard to convince tollbooth workers he was on official business. "He was observed to have bloodshot eyes and was unsteady on his feet," prosecutor Eric Gerard said in Manhattan Criminal Court. Chambers declined to take a breath test in the field and at the precinct stationhouse, but a police officer put it in front of Chambers' face while he was talking and he blew at .089, just above the legal limit. Investigators also claim Chambers told cops he had been drinking at a New Year's party, but stopped at around 3 am.
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department of homeless services
drunk driving
dui
dwi
inaugural
inauguration
mayor bloomberg
Nathaniel Chambers
Ben Muessig
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