Newly elected Holly Springs councilman arrested on DWI charge near downtown
A newly elected Holly Springs Town Council member was arrested early Wednesday morning after police say he crashed his car into a wooded area and failed a sobriety test.
Chris Deshazor, who began serving on the Town Council in November, was charged with driving while impaired.
Holly Springs police found Deshazor, 50, at the intersection of North Main Street and Anchor Creek Way around 1 a.m., court documents show. The area is across from Ting Stadium and near downtown.
What do police say happened? Deshazor’s car was wrecked, and police report that he had slurred speech and “red glassy eyes.”
Deshazor’s blood alcohol level was 0.10, court documents show. In North Carolina, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. Police reported that Deshazor said he’d had “three drinks and very little food.”
He has been prohibited from driving a car for the next 30 days.
Deshazor did not respond to The News & Observer for comment about the incident.
Thursday evening, he posted an apology on his campaign Facebook page, saying that he has “profound remorse” for his actions. He asked for forgiveness.
“First and foremost, I want to apologize unequivocally for being in that situation,” he wrote. “I am deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this situation has caused my family and you. As a resident and member of our town council, I have always strived to act in the best interests of our community, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Who is Deshazor? Deshazor served on the town’s Planning Board for six years before running for the council. He has lived in the town for 16 years.
He was elected to one of the council’s four-year term positions alongside Danielle Hewetson. Annie Drees was also elected this year to serve out the remaining two years of former Councilwoman Kristi Bennett’s term.
In his apology, he said he believes in the “power of redemption” and the ability to learn from mistakes.
“I am dedicated to using this experience to become a better person and a more responsible leader,” he said. “I plan to turn this situation into an opportunity to advocate for safer roads and responsible behavior in our community.”
What is the penalty for a DWI? There are five levels of a DWI misdemeanor with level one being the most serious.
A level five offense can result in a $200 fine, a minimum sentence of 24 hours in jail, 24 hours of community service or forbidding of operating a car for 30 days.
What happens next? A hearing has been set for Deshazor for Jan. 5. He was released from custody shortly after his arrest on his promise to appear in court.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated with more information once it becomes available.
This story was originally published December 21, 2023 at 11:57 AM with the headline "Newly elected Holly Springs councilman arrested on DWI charge near downtown."