Principal arrested for DUI had no drugs, alcohol in his system
Lab tests show a Clay County high school principal did not have drugs in his system when he was arrested Sept. 10.
John Westmoreland, 60, had already registered zeros on two breath tests after he was pulled over by a Clay deputy at 1:10 that morning on Blanding Boulevard. Results of a urine sample he provided that day were released Wedneday and show no drugs in his system.
The sample was tested for amphetamines, barbiturates, oxycodone, opiates, pot and other drugs, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Clay schools spokeswoman Darlene Mahla said Westmoreland, the principal at Ridgeview High School, remained on the job following the arrest.
The State Attorney’s Office said it will not prosecute. The decision was made after a review of the case because there was no evidence that Westmoreland was impaired by alcohol or drugs, said James Colaw, the State Attorney’s division chief in Clay.
Colaw said the deputy made a probable-cause arrest on the basis of observation, Westmoreland’s performance on a field sobriety test, the time of night and the smell of alcohol.
“I think the arrest was made in good faith,” he said.
“As he said from the beginning, John Westmoreland is completely innocent of these charges,” attorney Sam Garrison said on behalf of the principal. “This has been an incredibly stressful time for John and his family. He respectfully asks for his privacy.”
It was a probable-cause arrest made on the basis of the deputy’s observations and Westmoreland’s performance on a field sobriety test.
Westmoreland told the deputy he had two Natural Light beers at a co-worker’s house and was trying to put a cup of coffee in a holder when he was spotted weaving in his Jeep Wrangler, the arrest report said. He also handed the deputy a credit card instead of his driver’s licence, but explained he had just used it to buy the coffee.
Read more at Jacksonville.com:
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011 ... z1bGwMomQx
