Sharpsburg mayor arrested for 2nd DWI in 5 years

Sharpsburg Mayor Robert Williams has been charged a second time with driving under the influence, according to Rocky Mount police.

According to a police report, Williams was charged with DWI on Dec. 21. A court appearance is scheduled for February.

It's at least the second time Williams has faced DWI charges as an elected official.

Williams arrested on night he was elected

In May 2018, Williams was pulled over after leaving a polling place on the night of his election and tested for a blood alcohol content of .13.

A month later, the town council called a special meeting to hear concerns from the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association that, during a subsequent traffic stop – Williams was driving while his license was revoked – Williams berated officers, used racially-charged insults and gave them the middle finger.

Asked about that outburst, Williams claimed that council and police were biased against him and told reporters, "Get out of my face."

Williams eventually pleaded guilty and did 24 hours of community service, 24 months of supervised probation and spent 30 days wearing an electronic monitor.

Re-elected after DWI

In 2021, earned 223 votes – out of a town population of less than 2,000 – and was re-elected as mayor. According to the town's website, his current term will expire in November 2025.

Shelton Barnes, a Sharpsburg resident told WRAL News, "I don't even know how he got to be elected in the first place."

WRAL News reached out to the Sharpsburg Board of Commissioners regarding the most recent charge. A commissioner confirmed the mayor was arrested but declined further comment.

Kirk McDuffy told WRAL News, "Sharpsburg really isn't a big town to begin with. They don't need that kind of publicity."