Local Author Arrested For Second DUI

Wednesday, March 21st 2007, 4:44 pm

By: News On 6

New troubles for a local author. William Bernhardt has been arrested for drunk driving for the second time in a month. This most recent arrest happened in Jenks on Sunday around 2:00 p.m. The police report says the original call went out as a hit and run. A woman saw someone hit a mailbox and drive off. News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports the woman got the tag number of the Land Rover and called police.

The report says the officer spotted Bernhardt driving at 114th and Elm. It says he didn't stop when the officer turned on his lights, but nearly hit a motorcycle rider and ran a red light before pulling into a driveway and hitting a guardrail. The officer said he smelled a strong odor of alcohol and Bernhardt admitted, when asked, that he'd been drinking. It says he had heavily slurred speech and almost fell when he got out of the vehicle. He was too unsteady on his feet for sobriety tests, so he was given a breathalyzer. The report says he blew a .24, which is three times the legal limt.

Bernhardt was arrested in Tulsa for a DUI on February 23rd. That time, officers say he refused to follow their commands to get out of the car. A few days later, Berhnhardt apologized on the News On 6.

"I apologize to my family, my friends, my fans," he said.

Bernhardt has written a string of novels based on crime and courts that often feature local people and landmarks. We left a message at Bernhardt's home and publishing company, but didn't hear back.