New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director, Collin Arnold has been booked on charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving according to Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office records.
OPSO records show Arnold was booked into the Orleans Parish jail at 7:53 a.m. on Thursday morning. His court date is set for Friday.
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A spokesperson for the city of New Orleans confirms Arnold was driving a city-owned vehicle and allegedly crashed into another vehicle about 12:30 a.m. They also say Arnold refused a breathalyzer test.
"We can confirm that Collin Arnold, the Director of the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, was arrested early this morning and charged with a DWI. At approximately 12:30am, Arnold was driving a City-owned vehicle which stuck another vehicle. NOPD was notified and investigated. Arnold displayed signs of being intoxicated, but refused a breathalyzer test. He was booked into OPSO this morning around 5am.
“All normal procedures were followed by the NOPD. The Mayor expects this to be handled like any other case. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken once all the facts have been determined.”
Mayor Latoya Cantrell shared her disappointment in the incident saying, “My last communication with Director Arnold was last night around 10:15pm, regarding potential weather challenges in our area. I am disappointed by the incident that occurred hours later, and deeply relieved that no one was hurt. Collin Arnold has done a phenomenal job helping to keep this City and our people safe during an extraordinary and unprecedented series of challenges. We have a strong team at NOHSEP and I am confident they will not let this hinder the great work they continue to do.”
Arnold is one of 70 other New Orleans officials assigned a city-owned vehicle.