Muncie city clerk arrested, not jailed, for DWI

MUNCIE – Muncie City Clerk Phyllis Reagon was arrested for driving while intoxicated on Saturday evening, but she was not jailed.

Muncie Police Chief Steve Stewart said the handling of Reagon’s case was based on “compassion,” not political considerations.

“It’s not unusual someone would not go to jail for this,” Stewart said Wednesday. “It doesn’t mean they’re not going to face the charges.”

Officers were sent to the area of Mock Avenue and 18th Street about 9:30 p.m. Saturday after dispatchers received reports of an intoxicated driver.

According to a police report, other motorists began following Reagon’s car after it “drove onto a sidewalk” and was “swerving into the lane for oncoming traffic.”

Officers reported finding Reagon’s car stopped at 16th Street and Meeker Avenue, with its engine still running and the clerk behind the wheel. An officer wrote he smelled a “strong odor of alcohol,” and that Reagon “seemed to be disoriented, and mumbled...”

After a failed attempt to measure Reagon’s level of intoxication with a breath test, the clerk was taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for a blood draw, and was then “cited and released to her son... after she signed a promise to appear (in court).”

Stewart, who is also chairman of the local Democratic Party, said he believed the decision to not jail Reagon was based on “her age (and) her medical condition.”

Reagon is believed to be in her late 70s. The report did not include her birthdate, and her home address was listed as 300 N. High St. — Muncie City Hall.

Stewart said he encouraged his department’s patrolmen to “deal with people with compassion.”

“I probably would have done the same thing,” he added.

Reagon has been city clerk since 2004, when she was selected to succeed the late Ruth Dorer. She won election as clerk in 2007 and 2011, but did not seek another term in this year’s election. Her term expires Dec. 31.

Prosecutors said they were awaiting toxicology test results before deciding on what charges might be filed. Court records reflect no prior charges against Reagon.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.