State troopers stopped the legislator, a Cullman Democrat, in Jefferson County Friday following an accident on I-65.
State Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little, D-Cullman, was booked Friday night into the Jefferson County Jail at 7:26 p.m. for DUI, according Sheriff's Department spokesman Lt. Randy Christian.
A Jefferson County Sheriff's Department booking photo of Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little, D. Cullman.Little, 40, posted a $500 bond and was released around 8:30 a.m. this morning, according to Jefferson County jail records.He was arrested by Alabama state troopers and was escorted to jail by a lieutenant and two corporals, Christian said.
In a statement released this evening, Little apologized for his actions and said he takes full responsibility for what he did.
"DUI is a terrible offense, and what I did was wrong, dangerous and irresponsible. I am prepared to accept the consequences of what I did. I apologize to the people of my district," he said." But most of all, I apologize to my wife and children, who deserve so much better from me than this.That is the most painful part of my mistake."
State Trooper Spokesman Steven Jarrett said at approximately 5 p.m. Friday, a corporal traveling on Interstate 65 northbound in Jefferson County was flagged down by a motorist who reported witnessing a two-vehicle, property damage-type crash on the interstate.
The motorist told the corporal that one of the vehicles involved had driven away from the scene of the crash. The motorist then pointed out a vehicle ahead on the interstate and identified it as the vehicle that had left the scene of the crash.
The corporal pursued the vehicle. The vehicle did not initially stop in response to the corporal, but then pulled over just north of the 254 mile marker.
The 2008 GMC Sierra had damage to the front quarter panel on the driver's side. The corporal also observed the presence and odor of alcohol. He subsequently placed Little, the driver, under arrest for driving under the influence, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, violation of the open container law, and driving with an expired license.
Little refused to submit to a chemical test for intoxication.The second vehicle involved in the crash was described as a black SUV. It initially pulled off the interstate after the crash, but left the scene before troopers were able to make contact with the driver.