Jonesboro councilman Joe Compton arrested on charges of driving drunk and crashing into mailbox

Police arrested a Jonesboro City Council member after they said he drove drunk, crashed into a mailbox and then fled the scene.

Joe Compton now faces several charges for the incident that happened a few blocks from his own home on Aold Place on Wednesday night.

Because Compton is a city official, Jonesboro police called in Clayton County police to handle the investigation.
Compton's neighbor, Debbie Glavin, said she was in her front yard when Compton came speeding down the street in his black truck.

"Scared the heck out of me. I seen him come up and seen him jump the curb and heard the pow! I no idea who he was," Glavin said.

She said her husband went down the street to Compton's house to confront him after Compton pulled back into his own driveway and parked.

The Glavins said the council member then retued to the spot where he had knocked the Glavin's large brick mailbox off its footings.

Just down the street, in Compton's driveway Wednesday night, sat the black pickup in question.

On the tailgate were adhesive signs giving contact information for Compton and advertising his city position.

Around front, the fender was scraped and mangled -- the tire flat. His adult son met me at the door.

Compton's 26-year-old son said he was worried about his father but didn't have the money to go down and bail him out.

Compton has been on the Jonesboro City Council for three years. Police say he faces several charges.