A Lake County attorney and former magistrate was arrested late Saturday on two misdemeanor charges related to drunken driving, a police report said.
T. Edward Page, 62, of 1200 block of West 4th Street, Hobart, was driving recklessly on Indiana 149 and the results of a breath test reportedly showed his blood-alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit, according to Porter County Sheriff’s Department.
Page, a Merrillville attorney, served as a magistrate in Lake Superior Court from October 1984 until December 2000, according to his profile on LinkedIn. He also is a Lake County public defender.
“I’m completely ashamed of myself. My family, friends and colleagues expect more of me and I expect more of myself,” Page said. “I’m sorry I’ve let everybody down and embarrassed the profession.”
Marce Gonzalez Jr., Lake County chief public defender, said he met Monday with Page, which was González’s first day on the job.
“He’s a longtime employee and he will be afforded the presumption of innocence,” Gonzalez said. “I will conduct an independent review of the matter as far as personnel decisions. My decision today is that Mr. Page will continue his public defender duties. A decision ultimately will be made placing the interest of our indigent clients first.”
Police said two witnesses called 911 to report a reckless driver southbound on Ind. 149 from U.S. 6. Witnesses told police the driver was crossing the centerline and driving southbound in the northbound lane. One of the witnesses followed the car for a short time and provided a license plate number.
Police spotted the car, reportedly driving very slowly, around 10:45 p.m. Saturday at Pepper Creek Drive and Ind. 149 in Union Township and pulled Page over on Pepper Creek Drive.
Page told police, “I’m lost,” a police report said.
Page told police he had “three bourbons” between 8 and 10 p.m. while he was at the Freemason Lodge in Michigan City, the report said. Police said Page asked what state he was in twice.
Page failed a series of field sobriety tests, police said, and, according to a portable breath test, had a blood alcohol content of .20 percent; the legal limit is .08 percent.
Police transported Page to Valparaiso Medical Center for a toxicology screen and transported him to Porter County Jail.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Ruth Ann Krause contributed.
