Kotzebue fire chief arrested for DUI in city vehicle

Kotzebue. (Photo by Neal Herbert/ National Park Service)
Kotzebue. (Photo by Neal Herbert/ National Park Service)

Kotzebue’s fire chief is appearing in court Thursday after being arrested Saturday and being charged with driving under the influence.

According to a press release from Kotzebue’s Police Department, 37-year-old Sean Ralston was driving the city’s fire chief vehicle when an officer stopped him outside his home.

Ralston showed signs of impairment during a field sobriety test. A police officer found one crushed and one half-full beer can on the driver side floor of the vehicle. Ralston was taken to the Kotzebue Regional Jail, where he blew a .167 breath alcohol content. That’s more than twice the legal limit in the state of Alaska.

Ralston was charged with driving under the influence and his arraignment is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Thursday.

Correction: Sean Ralston’s age has been corrected. He is 37, not 36. 

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