Richmond City Commissioner James “Jim” Newby arrested on DUI charges after traffic stop, police say

Richmond City Commissioner James “Jim” Newby, 57, was arrested and is facing DUI charges after police said officers stopped his vehicle for running a stop sign and making an abrupt U-turn into a business area in the city, according to an arrest citation described by WKYT. The report says the stop occurred just before midnight on Thursday, July 2, after a Madison County sheriff’s deputy observed Newby’s vehicle disregard the posted stop sign at the intersection of Water Street and South Collins and then make an abrupt U-turn into the Liquor Stop on South Collins Street.

WKYT reports that, during the traffic stop, the deputy said he smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. The report further states that the citation says Newby struggled to communicate, had slurred speech, and could not maintain his balance during field sobriety testing conducted at the scene.

The arrest citation described in the WKYT report also alleges signs of impairment during the sobriety evaluation. WKYT says the deputy reported that, when Newby exited the vehicle, his pants were dry, but during the sobriety test, his pants and shirt began to get wet. The deputy is reported as saying that when asked whether he had urinated, Newby told officers that he had spilled a drink earlier that night.

According to WKYT, a preliminary breath test showed Newby’s blood alcohol content at 0.098 percent. The report does not describe any additional test results or the specific DUI charge level, nor does it provide information about whether Newby was released or held after the arrest.

WKYT also reported that Newby posted on Facebook after his arrest, saying he made a mistake and asking the public not to give up on him. The report did not include further details from the commissioner’s post, such as whether he addressed the specific allegations in court or with city officials.

In Richmond’s political calendar, WKYT said Newby will be on the ballot for re-election as city commissioner after advancing in the May primary. It was not stated in the report whether the arrest will affect his candidacy, ballot status, or the city commission’s operations in the near term, nor did it describe any administrative leave or resignation.

The case now moves through the court process following the arrest citation. Under Kentucky procedure, Newby will have the opportunity to respond to the charges, and the ultimate outcome will depend on what prosecutors can prove and what the court rules on any motions or evidentiary issues.

Local officials and residents may also look to the city’s internal rules for continuity of government while a commissioner faces criminal charges, particularly around attendance, voting, and public-facing duties. Any impacts on meetings or city services would be governed by municipal policy and any directions from court orders or city leadership.