POUGHKEEPSIE – Sarah Salem, 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 charges of driving while intoxicated at the scene of the wreck.
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 a several phone calls and texts seeking comment on the two arrests.
