D.C. Council Member and former Mayor Marion Barry said he was improperly stopped and charged Saturday by U.S. Park Police.
Police detained him for nearly three hours after pulling him over for driving too slowly, Barry said. Police cited Barry, 70, for driving on a suspended license, but the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles said his license was in good standing and attributed the mistake to a computer glitch.
Barry said he thinks police are harassing him.
On Tuesday, Ward 1 Democratic Council Member Jim Graham said Barry is “being stopped for every conceivable offense.”
Mayor-elect Adrian Fenty and Council Chairman-elect Vincent Gray declined to comment Tuesday.
Barry has threatened to sue.
Park Police spokesman Lt. Scott Fear said Barry received a citation and was given a court date in February.
Saturday’s incident marked the third time in about seven months the former mayor has been stopped and cited in connection with an alleged traffic infraction.
Barry was ticketed in September after the Secret Service stopped him near the White House, saying he ran a red light. Officers said they smelled alcohol and detained Barry, who said he has a report that says he passed a Breathalyzer test.
In May, D.C. police cited Barry for a traffic violation after a minor wreck in Southeast Washington, police said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
