Published: June 26, 2009 02:45 pm      

Police: Indiana lieutenant governor candidate claimed immunity

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indianapolis police are investigating whether the 2008 Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor misrepresented himself as a state legislator to avoid possible arrest for public intoxication.

Police Sgt. Matthew Mount says former Rep. Dennie Oxley II and a 21-year-old woman were found at a downtown Indianapolis gas station early Friday. He says Oxley became "kind of belligerent" and claimed immunity from arrest because the Legislature is in session.

But Mount says officers later found out that Oxley was no longer a lawmaker. Oxley did not seek re-election to his seat last year after he was nominated for lieutenant governor.

A telephone message seeking comment was left at Oxley's home in the Southern Indiana town of English.