Tennessee lawmaker arrested on drunken driving charge

photo William Beck is photographed for booking by the Metropolitan Nashville Police on Friday, April 17, 2015, in Nashville.

NASHVILLE -- A state lawmaker from Metro Nashville is facing charges of drunken driving and violation of the implied consent law.

Nashville police stopped Rep. Bill Beck on Friday morning and arrested him after he declined to complete a roadside sobriety or a breath alcohol test. Beck is a first-term Democrat who represents portions of downtown and eastern Nashville.

The arresting police officer said in an affidavit that Beck's truck was travelling with two wheels in the turn lane, and that the lawmaker had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.

"I asked Mr. Beck to get out of the truck and noticed a stain on his tie, his shirt was half tucked in, and his pants were unzipped," Metro Police Officer Bradley Nave wrote in the affidavit.

Beck initially agreed to perform a series of field sobriety tests, the affidavit said, but the lawmaker did not want to continue when he was asked to walk and turn. Beck, the officer wrote, did not want to submit to a breath test.

The lawmaker told the officer that he had not had any alcohol to drink. WKRN talked to Beck around 6 a.m. Friday after he was released from the jail.

"Don't believe that I'm guilty," Beck told the news station. "Had a long day."

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