Jeffersonville attorney Larry Wilder was found asleep by police in his neighbor’s overturned city garbage can Wednesday morning, after neighbors called police when they woke to find their trash strewn on the ground and a man inside the receptacle.
Jeffersonville Police Chief Tim Deeringer said Wilder was cooperative when police arrived at the home on Elk Pointe Boulevard and was able to walk back to his home — next door.
Wilder’s son and daughter, both adults, were home and able to take care of him from there, Deeringer said.
No arrest was made as a result of the incident.
“There was no crime committed,” Deeringer said.
Although police records describe Wilder as “10-47” — police code for intoxicated — upon officers’ arrival, no breath alcohol or sobriety test was administered. It’s an officer’s discretion on what actions to take in such situations, the chief said. Typically, if someone is that close to their home, they would just be escorted to their residence.
Police records show that officers arrived on the scene just before 7 a.m. Wednesday.
A neighbor, Roberta Embry, said her husband found Wilder inside the can when walking out of the house that morning.
“He (Wilder) took all the trash out and laid it (the trash can) on its side,” she said.
Embry said she did not notice any drinking at Wilder’s residence the night before, but said her husband had. Her husband declined to comment on the situation when called by a reporter.
Wilder represents the Jeffersonville City Council and has acted as the city’s attorney on several high profile cases, including the legal wrangling regarding the city’s annexation.
He recently presented arguments before the Indiana Court of Appeals in an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against Jeffersonville over a ban on sex offenders in city parks.
In 2008, he was the highest paid of Jeffersonville’s six city attorneys, receiving $107,000 in tax dollars. That’s four times more than the next highest-paid city attorney.
He’s also attorney for the Greater Clark County Schools system, as well as operating his own private practice, located on Court Avenue in Jeffersonville.
Jeffersonville City Councilman Ron Grooms said the incident was “an embarrassment.”
“The city council should consider action to reprimand or place [Wilder] on leave or take appropriate action,” Grooms said.
He said it was unfortunate, noting that the Wilder family has gone through a lot recently.
Wilder and his ex-wife, Jeffersonville Clerk-Treasurer Peggy Wilder, were divorced last year. She’s been accused of improperly using city credit cards, a scandal Larry Wilder was pulled into not only because they were married at the time, but also because he repeatedly publicly defended her.
Councilman Nathan Samuel lives in Wilder’s neighborhood, Elk Pointe, and had not heard any commotion the night before the incident.
“It seems like very unusual behavior. I definitely haven’t seen him like that personally.”
Samuel said he’d want to find out what happened from Wilder’s standpoint before making any decision on how to act. He noted that Wilder was not an employee of the city but a contracted attorney on his own time and “without question he’s an excellent litigator.”
Councilmen Ed Zastawny and Keith Fetz also declined to comment until they heard Wilder’s side of the story.
The Evening News called Wilder and sent him a text message requesting comment Wednesday. He was not reached by press time Thursday morning.
Clark County
Related Photos
Discussion
Jeffersonville attorney Larry Wilder found asleep in trash can
City attorney was walked home, but no arrest made
-
-
THE 'V' WORD: SUB: Prosser Career Education Center moves away from stigma of ‘vocational’ school
- TARC sets Memorial Day and Kennedy Bridge route changes
-
Former employee sues Jeffersonville
The suit references a city policy, in which employees are supposed to receive a $100 stipend for each day they’re on call.
Continued ... -
Vietnam veteran receives medals 46 years after active duty ends
-
Pence talks bridges, jobs during Southern Indiana swing
“I think everyone senses with the recent bridges agreement, the potential for extraordinary growth,” said Mike Pence, a U.S. House member who is seeking to replace Gov. Mitch Daniels and retain the gubernatorial seat for the Republican Party.
Continued ... -
Delaware woman dies in I-65 crash
-
Clark County approves self-insurance plan
Clark County Insurance Agent-of-Record Diane Swank presented health insurance renewal options at the council meeting Monday, but the county’s fiscal body decided to recess its meeting in order to review a proposal to move the county to a self-insured plan.
Continued ... - May 24, 2012
-
Jeff to start enforcing insurance ordinances
A 2004 ordinance that dictates how much city retirees pay for health insurance – ignored for years by Jeffersonville officials – looks like it will now be enforced.
Continued ... - ISP arrests five at Clark County roadblock
- May 23, 2012
-
Appeals court hears Covered Bridge case
The Indiana Court of Appeals heard the respective oral arguments on the town of Sellersburg’s effort to annex the Covered Bridge Subdivision and the Willows on Wednesday. Covered Bridge appealed the trial court’s ruling that the town’s annexation preceded the subdivision’s effort to incorporate into an independent town and that, in exchange for sewer service, the residents would agree to not remonstrate against the annexation attempt.
Continued ...
-
