Senator Whitehouse's Son Arrested on DUI Charge

Alexander Whitehouse, of Newport, the 19-year-old son of U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, was arrested early this morning on charges of driving under the influence. His passenger, 18-year-old Robert Bauer, of Portsmouth, was also arrested for possession of marijuana.

Police reported that around 1:25 this morning, a witness called the to report a car that was operating in an erratic manner at the intersection of Green End and Aquidneck avenues in Middletown. The witness said the passenger was holding a beer bottle and both individuals in the car appeared to be intoxicated. Whitehouse's car allegedly drove into the 7-Eleven parking lot on Aquidneck Avenue at a high rate of speed and the pair stumbled out of the car, according to reports.  

When officers arrived, Whitehouse reportedly reached into the front passenger’s side door, took out a beer bottle and emptied its contents onto the ground. Whitehouse reportedly told police he had been at a party in Portsmouth and was on his way home to Newport, but stopped to get gas. He allegedly told police he had three beers and four shots of gin at a friend’s house within the past two hours.  

Whitehouse allegedly failed the field sobriety tests and was arrested. At the Middletown Police Station, he agreed to a chemical test which allegedly returned a blood alcohol content of .091 and .091 around 2:53 a.m. The legal limit in Rhode Island is .08.

Middletown Police Major Terry W. Hazel said the case will be handled in the same manner any other arrest.

Police reportedly found marijuana, a glass pipe, a brass pipe, beer bottles, an empty vodka bottle, a silver flask that contained gin, a full bottle of gin and a large knife in a sheath in the car.

Whitehouse was also cited for presence of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle and for the transportation of alcohol by a minor. Bauer was also cited for underage consumption.