by Charleston City Police have launched an internal investigation following a traffic stop involving state Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston on Tuesday night. The incident occurred when an off-duty state police trooper observed Wriston driving erratically on the east end of Charleston around 11 p.m. City officers then pulled him over on Interstate 77, near Daniel Boone Park a few minutes later.
According to a statement released by the CPD, Wriston was identified as the driver and was not charged with any traffic or criminal offenses at the time of the stop. Governor Jim Justice confirmed during a media briefing that Wriston was driving a state vehicle when he was pulled over and subsequently allowed to continue driving.
Media outlets received an email, along with photos and a video of the traffic stop on Interstate 77. Justice emphasized that there is no attempt to cover up the incident from his office, stating that he had just been made aware of the situation shortly before the briefing.
The Governor expressed his disapproval of drunk driving, emphasizing that there is no excuse for any state employee to operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the appropriate course of action.
MetroNews reached out to the state Department of Transportation for comment on the incident, but no response was received in time for this report. As the investigation unfolds, more details are expected to emerge regarding the handling of the traffic stop involving Secretary Wriston.
