Richard Roberts Arrested on DUI Complaint

Richard Roberts, son of Oral Roberts and former president of Oral Roberts University, was released from Tulsa County Jail Tuesday morning after being arrested for driving under the influence.

According to the arrest and booking reports, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper clocked Roberts’ Mercedes at 93 mph in a 65 mph zone. Roberts was pulled over around midnight Tuesday morning.

A report from the jail indicates that the trooper administered a horizontal gaze sobriety test after he smelled a strong odor of alcohol, but Roberts was unable to follow the instructions. He was also unable to execute the walk-and-turn test.

The trooper arrested Roberts and took him to the Jenks Police Department, where he agreed to a breathalyzer test. His blood alcohol level was tested at .11 percent. The legal limit in Oklahoma is .08 percent.

Roberts was transferred to the Tulsa County Jail and booked by 2:45 a.m. on DUI and speeding complaints. He was released from the jail just before 6 a.m. on $1,100 bond.

Roberts, 63, resigned as ORU’s president in 2007 amid allegations that he and his family misused university and ministry resources. He was given the honorary title of president emeritus in 2008. His father, Oral Roberts, who would have turned 94 years old today, died in 2009.

Roberts is currently the chairman and CEO of Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. He and his wife, Lindsay, host a nationally syndicated TV program, The Place for Miracles: Your Hour of Healing, a one-hour, interactive daily broadcast that reaches out to millions.

Oral Roberts University released a statement Tuesday morning: “Our prayers go out to Richard and Lindsay Roberts and their entire family as they face this life challenge. May God’s grace help them as they work towards healing.”

In addition, ORU’s current president, Mark Rutland, said: “My heart goes out to Richard Roberts and the entire Roberts family. Richard served here for many years and he is in our prayers. Our God is a God of mercy and compassion, and ORU is a place of healing love. I am thankful that here at Oral Roberts University we are building Spirit-empowered leaders to impact their world for Jesus Christ.”