Washington County Sheriff Samuel Romano spent Wednesday night in jail after he was arrested for drunken driving near Parsons, W.Va.
Tucker County Sheriff Tom Felton said the department received a telephone call about a possible drunk driver and stopped a black, 2006 four-door Mercedes-Benz at 5:15 p.m. on Route 72. After failing field sobriety tests, Romano, 43, was given an Intoximeter test, which Felton said resulted in a .231 blood-alcohol level - nearly three times the legal limit to drive a car in West Virginia.
"I realize the severity of this matter and by no means do I take this lightly," Romano said today in a written statment.
Felton said the deputy making the arrest learned during the stop that Romano is the Washington County sheriff. Romano was taken to Tygart Valley Regional Jail and released Thursday morning.
"By no means do I feel that I am above the law in this or any other matter, nor did I ask for or was treated as such," Romano said.
Parsons is the government seat of rural Tucker County and 104 miles away from Washington. According to Romano's statement, he was sightseeing with his fiance, Angie, in nearby Elkins, W.Va. Felton said the Mercedes-Benz was registered in Pennsylvania to an Angela Conner.