State police stopped a gold 2012 Kia Sportage driven by Jerry T. Lunsford, 58, of 1725 Onans Bend Road, around 10:30 a.m. Monday on Versailles Road.
Lunsford, a division director in the Finance and Administration Cabinet’s Department for Facilities and Support Services, stopped his Sportage a car length past the stop line at a red light at the intersection of Schenkel Lane and Versailles Road and nearly swerved into a state trooper after the light turned green, according to Lunsford’s arrest citation.
Lunsford had slurred speech and swayed on his feet during field sobriety tests, the citation says. He told police he was tired and taking oxycodone, a painkiller, because he broke his ribs earlier that morning.
Police searched his Sportage and found prescription pill bottles containing oxycodone, tramadol (another painkiller), and lorazepam (an anti-anxiety drug) in the vehicle’s center console. Lunsford consented to a blood test, which was collected at Frankfort Regional Medical Center and is pending, according to the citation.
William Burger II posted a $376 bond on his behalf Monday, court records show.
Cindy Lanham, spokeswoman for the Finance and Administration Cabinet, confirmed Lunsford worked for the cabinet but said the department did not comment on personnel matters. She said Lunsford declined to comment.
Lunsford, a business partner of former Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, earns $75,000 per year as a division director.
He had been appointed as commissioner of the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction in the Public Protection Cabinet in March 2011 by Gov. Steve Beshear, and left the $90,000-per-year post March 15.
Lunsford, a former realtor and developer here, sold a 54-acre farm to Mongiardo in July 2009 for $72,000 less than he originally paid for it in 2006. Mongiardo used his $30,000 yearly housing stipend to help pay for the property.
In 2008, Lunsford won approval from the state Supreme Court to build a 95-home subdivision on Louisville Road near the Game Farm.
He later tried unsuccessfully to develop a 10-acre property neighboring the Game Farm into condos and commercial businesses in 2009.
Lunsford is set for arraignment in Franklin District Court 9 a.m. May 31. He faces charges of driving under the influence, disregarding a traffic control device, reckless driving and license to be in possession.
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