Two City Council staffers arrested for alleged DUI after Spring Garden crash

Two City Council staffers are facing charges – and possibly the loss of their jobs – for allegedly driving under the influence after a crash in the Spring Garden section of Philadelphia early Saturday morning.

“I have been informed by the Philadelphia Police Department that two
City Council employees face possible DUI charges following incidents
involving City-owned vehicles early this morning,” Council President Darrell Clarke said in a statement yesterday.

Authorities said Clarke’s receptionist Robin Jones, 50, was driving a city-issued 2008 Chevy Cobalt when, around 2:30 a.m., she struck a street sign, then skidded into the side of a building at 13th and Hamilton streets. Jones told police that she swerved to avoid hitting a bicyclist.

Investigators said that Jones called friend and City Council Sergeant-at-Arms Rodney Williams, 41, who showed up to the accident in a 1997 Ford Explorer, which was also city-issued. Officers on the scene could see that Williams was “visibly intoxicated,” police said.

“The employees, one a receptionist and the other a Sergeant-at-Arms,
were not authorized to use the City-owned vehicles at the time of the
incidents,” Clarke said. “These acts, if confirmed by the authorities, display a level
of conduct and disregard for public safety that cannot be tolerated.”

Both Jones, of the 5100 block of Diamond Street, and Williams, of the 2300 block of Bouvier Street, were arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Jones, who was also charged with driving on a suspended or revoked license, was arraigned shortly before 9:45 p.m. Saturday night. Williams was arraigned around 1:40 a.m. this morning. Each were released on their own recognizance, according to court documents.

“I await the results of a full investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department and will take appropriate action,” Clarke said.