CHP Arrested Fountain Valley Councilman

Councilman James D. Petrikin, already under fire for missing about a third of the council meetings this year, was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of driving while intoxicated near his Northern California ranch, authorities said.

Petrikin, 57, was stopped for driving erratically at 2:45 p.m. Nov. 4 on Interstate 5 in Lodi, a small city near Stockton, California Highway Patrol Lt. George Johnson said.

Another driver had noticed Petrikin’s white Mercedes weaving in and out of traffic and called authorities, Johnson said.

A CHP officer pulled Petrikin over and arrested him on suspicion of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. The councilman did not take a field sobriety test.

“The indication of the officer was that he was somewhat disoriented and intoxicated,” Johnson said. “He was unable to follow simple directions and instructions. Therefore, he was not submitted to a field sobriety test.”

Petrikin could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Following the arrest, he was booked into the infirmary at San Joaquin County Jail. He took routine chemical analysis tests to determine whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Johnson said. Test results were not yet available Thursday.

Jail officials would not say when Petrikin was released, nor would they say whether he has been formally charged.

Petrikin has come under criticism for missing eight of the twice-monthly City Council meetings this year, including the most recent one last Tuesday. He has said in the past that he could not attend the meetings because of ongoing health problems following hip and back surgeries.

At least one elected official, Barbara Johnson of the Huntington Beach Union High School District, who lives in Fountain Valley, has called for him to resign.

At an Oct. 21 council meeting, Petrikin announced a comeback, saying that he was getting better and planned to finish his third term, which ends in 2000. That day, Petrikin, a known Western wear lover, was greeted by council members Chuck Conlosh and Guy Carrozzo wearing cowboy hats.