WOWK-TV weatherman charged with DUI

[unchoopfan]

July 26, 2012
Charleston TV weatherman charged with DUI
Charleston Gazette/Staff Report

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Police arrested a Charleston TV weatherman last week after he was allegedly found driving with a blood-alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit.

On July 19 at about 12:30 a.m., State Police Trooper S.A. Nazelrod saw a red Kia Rio with Texas license plates idling in a U.S. 119 intersection near an Interstate 79 off-ramp, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

The car was registered to Bryan Hughes, 34, of Charleston, a meteorologist for WOWK-TV.

Nazelrod said he parked behind the car for several minutes with his emergency lights activated before approaching. The trooper said he then saw Hughes slumped over, asleep in the driver's seat.

Nazelrod pounded on the window for several minutes trying to wake Hughes up, according to the complaint. When Hughes eventually woke up, Hazelwood saw he had bloodshot eyes, and the trooper could smell a strong alcoholic odor, the complaint said.

Hughes allegedly told the trooper he had a few drinks earlier that evening and was trying to make it home. The trooper began a field sobriety test but Hughes said he wanted to stop, the criminal complaint said.

Hughes was charged with driving under the influence. He later registered a BAC of .148 at the police station, the complaint said. The legal limit in West Virginia is .08 percent.

He was taken to South Central Regional Jail and was released after posting bond.

Hughes said Thursday he did not want to comment on the charge. "It is what it is and it's been taken care of," he said.