A Roanoke, Texas, police corporal is on administrative leave after Lewisville police arrested him on suspicion of driving while intoxicated following an alleged reckless run on I-35E. The arrest has put one of Roanoke’s own officers under both a criminal investigation and an internal department review.
Kenneth Dale Richardson was arrested last Saturday after a witness reported seeing him drive recklessly and nearly hit two vehicles on northbound I-35E, according to a report by The Star-Telegram. A digital speed sign reportedly clocked the vehicle at 58 mph in a 35-mph zone.
According to the affidavit, a Lewisville officer observed that Richardson had slurred speech and red, watery eyes. Richardson allegedly told police he was coming from a party in Keller where he had consumed vodka, and he failed field sobriety tests.
Richardson was booked into jail after the arrest and posted a $1,500 personal recognizance bond the following day, online records cited in the report show. The available information does not indicate that he has been convicted, and the allegations remain subject to court proceedings.
Roanoke Police Launch Internal Review
Roanoke police confirmed Richardson’s rank and placed him on administrative leave while the matter is reviewed. In a statement reported by The Star-Telegram, the department said the internal investigation will be conducted thoroughly and in accordance with department policy and applicable law.
The department’s response leaves two tracks open: the criminal case in Denton County and the administrative process inside the Roanoke Police Department. Neither the length of Richardson’s leave nor any potential disciplinary action has been announced.
What A Texas DWI Charge Means
Under Texas law, a person commits driving while intoxicated by operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. The statute defines intoxication as losing the normal use of mental or physical faculties because of alcohol or drugs, or having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.
A standard DWI charge is generally a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum 72-hour confinement term, although prior convictions, a high alcohol concentration or other circumstances can increase the penalties. For now, Richardson faces an allegation—not a conviction—while prosecutors and Roanoke officials determine what comes next.
