Houston City Councilman wanted for Questioning in Hit and Run

Another reason to be proud of our city government.

Note the story was written by an AP reporter -- so it has been broadcast all over the country.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/breaking/573068

Houston Chronicle -- June 7, 2000, 12:26PM

Police seek Houston City Council member in accident probe
By JUAN A. LOZANO -- Associated Press Writer

HOUSTON -- Houston police are investigating whether a freshman City Council member early this morning hit a parked vehicle, then fled the scene on foot.

Witnesses told police the driver of a Ford Expedition that hit a parked truck in a southwest Houston neighborhood about 2:45 a.m. identified himself as Councilman Bert Keller before leaving the scene. The vehicle is registered to Keller, said Alvin Wright, aHouston Police Department spokesman.

"Witnesses said the man appeared to be highly intoxicated," Wright said. "Witnesses saw a male behind the wheel saying he was Bert Keller. Witnesses indicated the man said that he couldn't afford to stay at the scene and left on foot. But the driver has not been identified as Keller yet."

Police found dented beer cans in the vehicle, but how long they were there and who drank them is a question to ask Keller, Wright said.

Late this morning, investigators were contacted by Keller's attorney, Rusty Hardin, who said his client will be available to police on Thursday to make a statement about the wreck. "His lawyer is out of town in New York," Wright said. "Until the lawyer gets in, there's nothing to do but wait. Until (Keller) comes in and says what happened, no judgment will be made."

Keller spokeswoman Nancy Sims said Keller was "recuperating with family" on Wednesday. She declined comment when asked if Keller had been drinking before the wreck.

Keller missed today's scheduled City Council meeting. Colleagues shied away from comment, though Mayor Lee Brown said he had checked to make sure Keller wasn't seriously injured.

The Expedition had major damage to the driver's side fender and wheel. The parked truck also suffered substantial body damage.

Keller is serving his first term on the council out of the west Houston district. He is president of A.P. Keller Inc., a commercial real estate firm.


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[This message has been edited by dc sports (edited June 07, 2000).]

 

http://www.kprc.com/hou/news/stories/news-20000607-130806.html

From KPRC Channel 2:
Hardin said that he expects police to file DWI charges against his client, but not hit-and-run charges. Keller denied leaving the scene of the accident. He said that he lived close by and hit a truck as he was parking. "(Keller) informed people at the scene that's where he lived," Hardin said. "And that's why it wasn't a failure to stop and give information."

Please!

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Today's chronicle has more details. This story gets sadder and sadder.

It's a disgrace that the councilman was drinking and driving. But he made it worse by sending the message that you can get away with it by hiding for a few days, evading police, and avoiding an alcohol test. I can't believe that it would be handled this way with a 'normal' citizen. If it had been someone else, they would be a warrant out for their arrest, and charges pending.

If they don't press charges for DUI, it sets a very dangerous precedent. It also points to a very serious flaw in our legal system -- which I hope they take a look at. If you evade police in order to avoid an alcohol test, you should automatically waive the lack of one as a defense, and base the decision on other evidence -- like empty beer cans in the car and statements to witnesses.

It's also sad that the other city councilmen are condoning his action by their silence. Again, anyone else, and they would be on their soapbox. At the least, they wouldn't be expressing such sympathy for the guy. If someone had been in the car, or he had hit a pedestrian, do you think that they would be so concerned about his family problems, effectively giving that as an excuse?

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/page1/573639
Councilman flees traffic accident scene
By S.K. BARDWELL --- Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle
Chronicle reporter Matt Schwartz contributed to this story.
June 7, 2000, 11:03PM

Houston City Councilman Bert Keller, muttering to passers-by that he "couldn't afford" a drunken-driving arrest because "the judge is mad at me," fled the scene of an early-morning traffic accident Wednesday, witnesses told police. Keller wasn't seen or heard from again Wednesday, except through criminal defense lawyer Rusty Hardin, who was in New York when the freshman politician retained him, and his political consultant. Hardin said Keller would meet with accident investigators today.

The accident occurred about 2:45 a.m. Wednesday when Keller turned his sport utility vehicle north onto the 1300 block of Winrock, a few blocks from his house. Police said the Ford Expedition made a turn that was too wide and smashed into a truck parked on the other side of the street. Police found empty beer cans in the SUV.

Keller's political consultant, Nancy Sims, told reporters the 39-year-old councilman was not injured. Police said the Expedition suffered serious damage in the crash, which caused the air bags to deploy.

Susan Borck, the owner of the truck that was struck, was awakened by the noise and went outside. She said she asked the driver of the Expedition whether he had been drinking, but he gestured that he would not talk to her. Borck said the man then muttered something unintelligible, and she called to her husband to call police.

Brian Gordon and Brian Dillard, passers-by who stopped to offer assistance, said the Expedition's driver was more forthcoming with them, identifying himself as Keller and confiding, "I can't afford to get into trouble with a DWI. I'm a city councilman and the judge is mad at me," according to police.

Then he ran away, leaving his wrecked SUV at the scene. It was unclear which judge Keller meant. When police learned the vehicle was registered to Keller, they went to his home on Briarmead, a few blocks away. A maid at the house told police Keller did not live there anymore. Acquaintances of the family said Keller and his wife split up about a month ago, and he moved out.

Sims said Keller was in seclusion with his family. Acquaintances said he was at his parents' house. Hardin said his client had not received any special treatment from police. "He's not charged with anything," Hardin said. "The only special treatment he's getting is all this publicity."

Keller is serving his first term on City Council, having defeated one-term Councilwoman Jean Kelley in the November 1999 elections. He represents District G, which includes River Oaks and west Houston between Interstate 10 and Westpark. He has a real estate business.

Not surprisingly, word of Keller's accident began a buzz around City Hall that had not subsided by the end of the day. Several City Council members expressed concern for their colleague, but limited their comments, saying they did not know all of the facts of the incident. "My heart goes out to him," said Councilman Mark Ellis. "I know he's having some difficulties in his personal life. I want him to make sure he takes care of all that. I'm more worried about him as a friend than as a council member. I hope he addresses the issues."

Like most council members, Mayor Lee Brown said he heard about Keller's accident through the news media, calling it "an unfortunate incident." "At this point, it becomes really a matter for the criminal justice system," Brown said. "The district attorney has to make some decisions as to where they go with the case, based upon the investigation conducted by the Police Department."

Officers investigating the accident declined comment on whether Keller will be charged.

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