A Massachusetts lawmaker facing charges following an overnight crash near the State House in Boston said he takes “full responsibility” for his actions.
State Rep. John Lawn was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday near Beacon and Bowdoin streets. According to local ABC affiliate WCVB, a witness told police that a driver struck a parked Toyota Tundra and then drove off.
The 56-year-old Democrat, who chairs the health care financing committee, was arrested at 1:45 a.m. and charged with operating under the influence of liquor and leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage, both of which are misdemeanors.
In a statement to the press, Lawn accepted full responsibility for what he called “completely unacceptable” behavior.
“I deeply regret and take full responsibility for my actions. What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses. I am committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again,” he said. “To my family, friends, and constituents, I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry.”
Earlier in the day, Lawn — who has represented Boston’s western suburbs, including parts of Watertown, Waltham and Newton, for more than a decade — had led a committee hearing that stretched for more than four hours, according to Boston’s NPR station WBUR.
When he was stopped by police, the lawmaker reportedly told officers he was a state representative and was coming from an event at the State House, according to a police report obtained by WCVB.
Lawn is scheduled to be arraigned at the Boston Municipal Court on Thursday morning.
