Rep. Barton’s Son Arrested Outside HPMS

Bradley Linus Barton — the 41-year-old son of U.S. Rep. Joe Barton — was arrested outside Highland Park Middle School Thursday for alleged drunk driving.

Barton, a former congressional candidate, was charged with felony DWI, since one of his children was in the vehicle.

According to the probable cause affidavit released Monday afternoon, at 3:50 p.m. Thursday a driver advised a University Park Police officer that the driver of the vehicle behind her may be intoxicated. The driver was allegedly swerving, and nearly hit her, the witness said.

The officer then made contact with Barton, who was driving with one of his children — a fourth grader — and picking up another one of his children at HPMS. Upon speaking with Barton, the officer detected alcohol, and asked Barton if he had been drinking.

“I’d rather not answer that,” he responded, according to the affadavit.

Barton then told the officer he had taken medication for epilepsy earlier in the day,  and allegedly refused a field sobriety test. He was taken into custody, then posted $1,500 bail.

The arrest was originally reported by the Morning News.

By Bradford Pearson Aug. 29, 2011 | 1:51 pm | 13 Comments | Comments RSS
13 comments to "Rep. Barton's Son Arrested Outside HPMS"
  1. DemBones @ August 29, 2011 at 4:58 pm
    We’re indebted to the carpooler who noticed and notified authorities before anyone was injured, including his kids.

    I’m no fan of Rep. Barton, but his adult son’s behavior shouldn’t be held against him. Air quality due to cement plants should be.

  2. mk @ August 29, 2011 at 5:37 pm
    Agree 110% with DemBones…this could have resulted in a tragedy, so thumbs up to the alert parent who took action. I hope Mr. Barton attends rehab, pronto.

  3. former scot #24 @ August 29, 2011 at 7:34 pm
    finally.

  4. XT @ August 30, 2011 at 8:36 am
    I feel sorry for his kids, how humiliating. Thank god someone wasn’t hurt. He better get more than a slap on his wrist for this.

  5. 1Zima2Many @ August 30, 2011 at 8:40 am
    Now will someone please do something about the tennis moms who cap off their morning tennis with a Mambo Taxi (or three) at Taco Diner – and then go pick up their kids from school an hour later. I’m not kidding. Everyone in the Park Cities knows about this, but nothing happens.

  6. Jk @ August 30, 2011 at 9:08 am
    Does this make two years in a row that a parent has been pulled over for drunk driving in carpool? Unbelievable!

  7. XT @ August 30, 2011 at 9:33 am
    The unbelievable part is that it’s ONLY been two. To Zima’s point, there are many more out there who haven’t been caught.

  8. M @ August 30, 2011 at 11:55 am
    Apparently Joe watched too many episodes of Charlie Brown.

  9. Steve @ August 30, 2011 at 2:24 pm
    Picking up kids and playing tennis can be quite stressful.

  10. UPMomofboys @ August 30, 2011 at 5:01 pm
    @1Zima2Many….thank you! I had heard at one point the police were tailing people leaving MiCo and did catch a few DUI’s…

  11. tinkerbell @ August 30, 2011 at 7:14 pm
    If you want to catch the tennis moms, look for them on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Most teams practice on Tuesdays and all teams play on Thursdays. That would be interesting to do a check point at car pool on those days. :)

    The majority are responsible, but there are groups who knock a few back,then go to run errands including picking up their kids.

  12. notatennismom @ August 30, 2011 at 7:48 pm
    So you are saying Mr. Barton is a tennis mom?

    Does he even live in HPISD?

  13. former scot #24 @ August 31, 2011 at 12:12 am
    some things never change.
    it probably started during prohibition.
    but to my knowledge,
    from the FMDC (friday morning
    drinking club) at HPHS in the
    late sixties, to mom’s with
    midday happy hour in the 21st
    century some things will never change.
    like it or not, its part of our culture.

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