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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 1, 2008

Menor 'not limping' 2 hours before DUI arrest, man says

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Sen. Ron Menor

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A man who says he saw state Sen. Ron Menor about two hours before his drunken driving arrest Sunday said the senator showed no signs of having a fractured foot, which Menor has said prevented him from taking a field sobriety test.

Menor's attorney yesterday said Menor is receiving treatment for a fractured left foot and had an X-ray performed last week. Attorney Howard Luke also said there are medical records that verify Menor's claim that a missing contact lens caused him to drive slowly on H-1 Freeway, where police stopped him.

Eric Ryan, 42, of 'Ewa Beach, sent to news organizations a letter in which he said he may "shed some light" on the Menor case.

Ryan said he was driving out of the Honolulu Club parking lot at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday when he saw Menor walking up the garage ramp following a concert at Blaisdell Center.

"Menor was definitely not limping or showing any signs of having difficulty walking," Ryan said in a statement sent to The Advertiser.

In an interview, Ryan added, "It's a steep ramp and no one could have walked as far as he did from the Blaisdell to the Honolulu Club and as quickly as he did with a fractured foot."

Menor, D-17th (Mililani, Waipi'o), was stopped on suspicion of drunken driving at 12:30 a.m. Sunday near the Lunalilo on-ramp of H-1 Freeway. He said he was driving slowly because he lost both contact lenses and was using a single, older one.

Menor failed a breathalyzer test and was asked to perform a field sobriety test, which he refused, police said. Menor also declined to submit to an intoxilyzer test or allow police to take a blood sample.

Menor was charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant and released on $500 bail. Ryan said he submitted his statement to police.