Sen. Gene Suellentrop (R-Wichita) announced that he will be stepping aside from his role leadership role due to his recent DUI arrest.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Majority Leader said that most of his office’s formal duties will be handed over to the Assistant Majority Leader until the situation surrounding his arrest is resolved.
According to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, Gene Suellentrop was arrested around 4 a.m. Tuesday morning and booked on charges of driving under the influence, speeding, improper crossover on a divided highway and attempting to run from the police.
A judge ordered he be released from jail after his first appearance, saying the officer’s report was missing some necessary information.
There were multiple reports on Tuesday of a white SUV driving the wrong way on I-470 near Burlingame Road in Topeka. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, an officer caught up with the vehicle as it was heading eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-70 near the Gage Boulevard exit. A Capitol Police Officer tried pull the vehicle over, but the driver kept going before finally stopping near the 8th Street exit. Suellentrop was identified as the driver and was arrested shortly after.
Kansas Highway Patrol will be forwarding reports to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office to consider possible charges.
