Hotel Manager: Ophelia Ford 'Extremely Intoxicated'
Ford Denies Any Drinking Problem
POSTED: 6:17 pm CDT May 18,
2007
UPDATED: 11:19 pm CDT May 18,
2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- State Sen. Ophelia Ford was seen recently by a hotel manager falling off a stool in his hotel’s lounge.
Video: Hotel Manager Cites 'Intoxication' For Ford's FallFord’s health has been questioned by some after questionable behavior at a committee meeting on Capitol Hill.The I-Team has obtained a 911 phone call that reveals what Ford told Channel 4 News about her health was not what was reported by the on-duty manager of the Sheraton Downtown.The manager confirmed that he made a 911 call on Ford's behalf Tuesday night and that he told 911 dispatchers about Ford's condition.Dispatchers got the call about what was apparently going on in the Concierge Lounge on the 24th floor.“I need someone to come take a look at one of our guests. She took a fall off one of our chairs upstairs in the concierge lounge on the 24th floor. She’s extremely intoxicated,” the manager told the 911 dispatcher.Dispatchers asked the manager again what was wrong with the patient.“What caused the fall?” said the dispatcher.“Intoxication,” the manager said.That contradicts what Ford told Channel 4 News Thursday about how she was feeling and why she was rushed to a hospital.She told Channel 4 News that she was feeling “great” but that she was “not eating well” and was “low on blood.”The 911 call claiming she was intoxicated came one day after Ford shocked fellow committee members with an angry rant that appeared to be off-topic.Video: State Senator Taken To Hospital After RantFord confirmed Friday to Memphis TV station WMC that she was in the bar.“What I do is go down to that bar to try to get me some soup,” she said.She disputes the claim that any of this is related to alcohol.“I am called a chronic-anemic, and I’m not eating well,” she said.When asked what she would say if someone said she had an alcohol problem, Ford said it would be a “damned lie.”During the phone interview, Ford also defended her angry comments in the legislative committee Monday.She said she was questioning Department of Children's Services employees about the death of children.She said her work in the family funeral home business indicates those deaths aren't always reported.
Video: Hotel Manager Cites 'Intoxication' For Ford's FallFord’s health has been questioned by some after questionable behavior at a committee meeting on Capitol Hill.The I-Team has obtained a 911 phone call that reveals what Ford told Channel 4 News about her health was not what was reported by the on-duty manager of the Sheraton Downtown.The manager confirmed that he made a 911 call on Ford's behalf Tuesday night and that he told 911 dispatchers about Ford's condition.Dispatchers got the call about what was apparently going on in the Concierge Lounge on the 24th floor.“I need someone to come take a look at one of our guests. She took a fall off one of our chairs upstairs in the concierge lounge on the 24th floor. She’s extremely intoxicated,” the manager told the 911 dispatcher.Dispatchers asked the manager again what was wrong with the patient.“What caused the fall?” said the dispatcher.“Intoxication,” the manager said.That contradicts what Ford told Channel 4 News Thursday about how she was feeling and why she was rushed to a hospital.She told Channel 4 News that she was feeling “great” but that she was “not eating well” and was “low on blood.”The 911 call claiming she was intoxicated came one day after Ford shocked fellow committee members with an angry rant that appeared to be off-topic.Video: State Senator Taken To Hospital After RantFord confirmed Friday to Memphis TV station WMC that she was in the bar.“What I do is go down to that bar to try to get me some soup,” she said.She disputes the claim that any of this is related to alcohol.“I am called a chronic-anemic, and I’m not eating well,” she said.When asked what she would say if someone said she had an alcohol problem, Ford said it would be a “damned lie.”During the phone interview, Ford also defended her angry comments in the legislative committee Monday.She said she was questioning Department of Children's Services employees about the death of children.She said her work in the family funeral home business indicates those deaths aren't always reported. Previous Stories:
- May 17, 2007: Ophelia Ford Hospitalized After Rant
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