FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) — The son of Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was arrested Sunday (Jan. 24) on suspicion of DWI, according to Washington County Detention Center records.
Arkansas State Police arrested William Asa Hutchinson III, 40, after he crashed on the I-49 southbound exit ramp to the Fulbright Expressway, according to his arrest report. Hutchinson was driving on the ramp when he hit the guardrail with the front and side of his vehicle, the arrest report states.
A responding firefighter notified troopers who arrived on scene that he could smell alcohol from the vehicle and troopers noticed it too after speaking with Hutchinson, according to the arrest report.
When troopers asked Hutchinson what happened he told them he had dozed off and was on his way to Rogers, the report states. Troopers then asked Hutchinson why he was going south and he told them he was going north, according to the report.
Troopers said they noticed Hutchinson’s eyes were blood shot and watery, his speech was slurred, and he was slow to respond to questions, the report states. When asked to perform further field sobriety tests and a breath test, Hutchinson refused, according to the report. Hutchinson was arrested around 4 a.m., the report states.
Detention center records show Hutchinson was booked into the jail at 6:45 a.m. Sunday and released at 12:23 p.m. on $935 bond. He’s facing DWI, careless driving, and refusal to submit to a chemical test charges. His next court date at Fayetteville District Court is scheduled for Feb. 22.
The governor’s spokesman said Gov. Hutchinson was unavailable for comment Monday.
