Crime Blotter: Candidate Arrested for DWI in One Night

Oct. 13, 2005 -- -- A political candidate is arrested for DWI twice in a single night; an alleged burglar is caught hanging naked from a ceiling; and a man is found in a school, clad only in his underwear, allegedly downloading porn. As this week's "Crime Blotter" shows, sometimes the naked truth can be quite sobering.

VERNON, N.Y. -- An upstate New York political candidate is allegedly battling more than his opponent in his quest for a city council seat.

Brian Karst, a independent candidate for Oneida City Council, was arrested twice for allegedly driving while intoxicated in one night on Oct. 7. Oneida city police said Karst had a 0.14 percent blood-alcohol content -- nearly twice the legal limit of 0.008 -- when he was pulled over, ticketed and then released to a third party. Three hours later, authorities said, Karst was pulled over again and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.11 percent.

Police said Karst's DWI arrests were his third in the past month. He was arrested Sept. 9 for driving while intoxicated and said at the time that police had targeted him to sabotage his campaign.

"They are targeting me, trumping up charges to make my candidacy in the city election null and void," he said.

Karst is running against two-term Democratic incumbent Donald Moore. Despite his legal troubles, he said he is staying in the race.

"Just because I'm accused of something doesn't mean there aren't things that still need to be addressed," he told The Post-Standard. "I believe in democracy and that people should not run unopposed."

Karst's uncle, Terry Karst, chairman of the Independence Party in neighboring Madison County, said his nephew has been under stress after a divorce and a custody dispute. Still, he has encouraged him to continue his campaign.

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- There are plenty of crime buffs out there, but what about crimes in the buff?