A bizarre and embarrassing scene unfolded in rural Virginia after a local mayor was taken away in handcuffs while emergency crews were responding to a train derailment near the West Virginia border.
Authorities say Paul Morrison, the 57-year-old mayor of Rich Creek, was arrested on April 28 by deputies with the Giles County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of public intoxication. The arrest happened right at the scene of the derailment near Glen Lyn, where first responders had gathered to deal with the situation.
Video obtained by local outlet 10 News shows Morrison wearing a plaid shirt and interacting with emergency crews and law enforcement before things took a turn and he was taken into custody.
While officials have not released full details about what led to the arrest, a source told the outlet that Morrison allegedly arrived at the scene intoxicated.
The derailment itself involved about a dozen train cars carrying soybean oil that went off the tracks along the Virginia–West Virginia border. Officials confirmed that some of the non-hazardous oil leaked, but it was quickly contained. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and no evacuations were needed.
Emergency crews were first alerted to the derailment through a 911 call placed at 4:52 p.m., though it’s still unclear exactly when Morrison showed up.
After his arrest, Morrison was later released on his own recognizance, according to jail records.
Days later, the mayor publicly addressed the incident in a statement shared on Facebook by the town of Rich Creek.
“I would like to offer apologies for my state and any actions on 04/28 at the railroad incident. I regret any inconvenience as well as embarrassment this may have caused,” he said.
“I am truly sorry to have let you down and can assure you that nothing like this will happen again.”
Morrison also indicated that neither he nor the town would be making further comments.
The situation has drawn added attention given how recently Morrison took office. He was elected mayor in November through a write-in campaign, receiving 77 out of 106 total votes in the small town of roughly 700 residents.
As for the derailment itself, the cause remains under investigation.