Tim Frankenfield, Plainfield Township supervisors chairman, cited for drunkenness after falling at meeting

Douglas B. Brill

The chairman of the Plainfield Township Board of was cited for public drunkenness after he fell unconscious following a meeting he arranged, police said.

Tim Frankenfield, who is also the township's fire marshal, fell Thursday night after an emergency management meeting at the township municipal building, police said.

Frankenfield, 42, was found on his back with a half-empty bottle of liquor next to him, police said. Police said Frankenfield had hit his head against the corner of a wall, which today was cracked.

A transcript of a 911 call shows Frankenfield was unconscious for five minutes, from 7:45 p.m. to 7:50 p.m., which was moments after the conclusion of a meeting Frankenfield called among two supervisors, two fire officials, the township emergency management coordinator and the patrolman who ultimately cited him.

Frankenfield was carried on a stretcher to an ambulance, where a breath test revealed his blood-alcohol level was 0.17, police said.

Frankenfield, who pleaded guilty in 2007 to a separate public drunkenness charge, faces a $119.50 fine.

Fire company officials acknowledged Frankenfield smelled like alcohol during the meeting, police said. But police said it wasn't clear when or where Frankenfield had been drinking.

There were no indications anyone else at the meeting was drinking, police said.

Frankenfield did not immediately respond to a call for comment