Congressional candidate arrested on two traffic counts

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- A Republican candidate for Congress has apologized after being arrested in St. Charles County for unresolved traffic violations.

Rep. Sherman Parker, St. Peters, is challenging U.S. Rep. Todd Akin in Tuesday's primary for the Republican nomination to represent the 2nd District, which includes parts of St. Charles and St. Louis counties.

Parker was arrested Monday night in St. Charles County by a state trooper who questioned why he was near private property on Highway 40. Parker had been staking campaign signs on the property.

Parker was then arrested, briefly taken into police custody and released after paying two $100 bonds, according to court documents. The original violations were failure to appear in court for a speeding ticket and failure to properly register his car.

After being asked about the arrest Friday, Parker issued an apologetic statement.

"I very much regret that this incident may detract, in these last few days, from the issues I have been stressing in this campaign," Parker said.

Parker said he had sought to reschedule his original court date on the traffic warrants because they came during the legislative session. But he conceded that he did not follow up on the request after the session ended and his campaign for Congress began.

Parker has been given a court date for next month.