Patrick Conway, CEO of North Carolina health insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) resigned on Wednesday after details of his behavior during his DUI arrest leaked to the press.
Conway was arrested after failing two field sobriety tests. Following his arrest, he reportedly refused to take a blood test and became so belligerent that the police handcuffed him.
He behaved disrespectful toward law enforcement officers, kicked the cell door repeatedly, and had to be shackled. After he was transported to Randolph County jail in Asheboro he threatened to call the Governor if they did not release him.
The charges he now faces are two counts of misdemeanor child abuse, reckless driving, driving while impaired, failure to maintain lane control, and civil revocation of a driver's license.
After his arrest, he opened up toward the board of governors and confessed his arrest. He also reportedly voluntarily entered a 30-day rehab program.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina said a board committee investigated the incident and "determined Conway is a good leader who should stay on the job," WRAL reported.
It's not sure whether Conway offered to step down at that instant, but the board asked him to stay on. They reported the incident to the State Department of Insurance but gave no details.
"The efforts by the board of directors to hide the arrest of their CEO for drunk driving and child neglect is very disturbing. When news accounts surfaced of the June 22 incident last week, the board misrepresented to the Department of Insurance the actual arrest — telling me that the incident was without incident and was a routine arrest.
"On Tuesday, Sept. 24, news reports showed the arrest was anything but routine and Dr. Conway showed a complete lack of professionalism, respect and composure for the law enforcement officer and the legal process.
"I can deal with the criminal charges [against Conway], as bad as they are, but I cannot accept the coverup, the misrepresentation of facts, the lack of respect for oversight and regulation of a company and the lack of respect for law enforcement officers who are doing their duty."
Causey added, "I cannot move forward with any type of trust or confidence in this CEO."
Meanwhile, BCBS have assigned Chief Operating Officer Gerald Petkau as interim CEO and entrusted him with the challenging task of refurbishing the company's credibility.
Conway is set to appear in court on October 8, according to online records in Randolph County.