BOSTON (WHDH) - A Massachusetts state representative charged with drunken driving after police say he sideswiped a parked vehicle in Boston and kept going admitted to the facts of the case in court Thursday.
According to officials, Rep. John Lawn, a Democrat from Watertown, slammed into a parked truck across the street from the State House and drove off, leading to his arrest.
According to a police report, a witnessed followed Lawn’s SUV after it hit the truck and drove off. The witness claims Lawn also ran some stop signs.
The officer who eventually stopped Lawn wrote in the report that he “detected a strong odor of alcohol” coming from Lawn and that his eyes were glassy and had slurred speech. When asked to get out of the SUV, he says Lawn had “difficulty maintaining his balance.”
Lawn’s case was continued without a finding for one year.
Lawn’s driving license was also suspended for 45 days; he was placed on one year of probation and will have to pay a fine and undergo alcohol treatment and education.
Lawn apologized outside Boston Municipal Court Thursday.
“I apologize to my family, my friends, my constituents, my colleagues, I feel terrible and will do all I can to make sure that I live a better life and a healthier life and going and make sure nothing like this ever happens again,” Lawn said.
The Mass GOP is calling for Lawn to step down, writing, “He should resign and offer the residents of Watertown the chance to elect a new representative.”
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