LA MESA, Calif. -- It seemed like just another 911 call, until police learned exactly who they were dealing with.

It was a night of drinking, a late evening drive in La Mesa and then a 911 call about a parked Ford Explorer with its engine running.

"The driver is keeled over," the caller said.

"Are they drunk?" asked the 911 dispatcher.

"I'm not sure," replied the caller.

According to the La Mesa police watch commander log, the call came out as a driver passed out at the wheel.

A male passenger was passed out on a sidewalk.

The passenger in question was La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid.

When 10News approached Madrid, he said he was commiserating with friends that night about his son's death from cancer 19 years ago, and he had too much to drink.

Madrid denied passing out, but said, "I sat on the curb and got sick. I'm humiliated and embarrassed."

Police arrived and drove him a short distance to his home.

However, police did not cite him for public intoxication, which is a subjective call.

While Madrid's behavior has raised eyebrows, the biggest questions surround the treatment of the apparent driver.

Sources said she is a city employee and friend of Madrid. She was also driven home and never had to take any sobriety tests.

La Mesa police Chief Alan Lanning pointed to a lack of evidence.

"There really wasn't sufficient information to place him behind the wheel and operating the vehicle," said Lanning.

But one former police officer called that explanation -- along with the investigation -- weak.

He pointed out that someone had to be driving and conducting no sobriety test was a poor call.

"Was that driver in any way, had she consumed alcohol? If they did, that would be a very foolish decision to do something like that," said ex-police officer Kevin Lachepelle.

It was a decision that has sparked lingering questions in La Mesa about special treatment and political favoritism.

"If it was one of us, we would have been in the clink for sure," said one La Mesa resident.

Lanning said he did not agree, and said he considered the investigation closed.

As for Madrid, he told 10News he isn't pointing any fingers and takes full responsibility for drinking too much.