POUGHKEEPSIE – Sarah Salem, the chairperson of the Poughkeepsie Common Council, was arrested on February 26 after she allegedly ran a red light and struck another vehicle in the city. Poughkeepsie police took Salem into custody on a charge of driving while intoxicated.
Mid-Hudson News has learned that this is not Salem’s first drunk-driving arrest. In January of 2017, Salem was stopped by state troopers for a vehicle and traffic infraction in Wappingers Falls, police said.
During the traffic stop, troopers detected an odor of alcohol. Following a field sobriety test, Salem was arrested on a DWI charge, according to authorities.
Unconfirmed reports say that Salem was convicted on the lesser charge of driving while ability impaired.
Salem has not returned several phone calls and texts seeking comment on the two arrests.
