Former Milledgeville Councilman Responds to Monday’s DUI Arrest

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A former Milledgeville City Councilman was arrested and charged with driving under the influence Monday afternoon.

According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, a Georgia State Patrol Trooper arrested Phillip Joiner around 2:30 on Jefferson Street. After he was pulled over, officials say Joiner wouldn’t take a breathalyzer test.

He was charged for DUI, failing to maintain a single lane, having an open container in the vehicle, and having an expired car tag.

He bonded out of jail last night around 9 on $2500 dollar property bond.

41NBC spoke with Joiner over the phone Tuesday. He admits that he was distracted while driving, but had not been drinking.

He explained that refuse a breathalyzer as his attorneys have advised him to do in the past, but did go through a field sobriety test.

Joiner said he was passing the tests, but then the trooper noticed his eyes were flickering and said he was going to have to take him into custody.

Joiner said he then offered to do a breathalyzer test, but the trooper told him it wouldn’t matter at that point.

He also told 41NBC there was an open container in his car. He said it had been in the shop for a couple of weeks, and since it was messy, he said he didn’t realize it was there.

According to a report 41NBC brought you in January 2011, Joiner had been arrested 5 times in Baldwin county, two of those incidents were for DUI’s.

This latest incident makes it the third time he’s been charged with DUI.

Joiner’s term on council ended on December 11th. He did not seek re-election.