Editor’s note: This article has been edited to correct the Conditions of Release for Peterkin’s June 13 DUI charge.
Kenai City Council member Robert Peterkin was arrested early Saturday morning by Kenai Police for driving under the influence of alcohol and violating the conditions of his release from a previous DUI charge three months ago, according to charges filed at the Kenai Courthouse.
Peterkin, 52, of Kenai, was driving on the Kenai Spur Highway at about 1:45 a.m. on Sept. 12 when he was stopped near Spur View Drive for driving without running lights, according to an affidavit filed at the courthouse Sept. 12. The affidavit also said Peterkin had an open container in the vehicle.
The portable breathalyzer test administered to Peterkin at the time showed a blood alcohol content of .11. A subsequent DataMaster test showed a BAC of .084. One of the conditions of release for a previous DUI charge, which took place June 13 in Homer, was that Peterkin not consume alcohol to excess.
Peterkin was arrested for driving under the influence and violating the conditions of his release and was taken to the Wildwood Pretrial Facility.
Peterkin confirmed the event on Tuesday, saying that he had been drinking at Kenai Joe’s that night and attempted to drive himself home when he was pulled over.
“I don’t know man, I had a couple beers at Kenai Joe’s and left, and my tail lights were out and they pulled me over,” Peterkin said. “They asked me if I was drinking and I told them, ‘yeah.’ I was .004 over the legal limit.”
Peterkin agreed that council members should be held to a high standard when it comes to how they conduct themselves in public.
Driving under the influence is a Class A misdemeanor, and violating conditions of release is a Class B misdemeanor.
