According to a news release, the Town and Country Elementary School principal was “driving erratically” and did not stop when officers arrived.
TAMPA, Fla. — Authorities say they have arrested a Hillsborough County elementary school principal on suspicion of drunk driving and fleeing police when they attempted to pull him over.
Otis Kitchen II, 45, was driving near the intersection of West Linebaugh Avenue and North Dale Mabry Highway around 10 p.m. Friday when a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputy said Kitchen nearly struck him in the side. Kitchen, who is principal at Town and Country Elementary School, “was driving erratically, crossing lanes and nearly going into the path of oncoming traffic,” the news release said.
Another deputy said Kitchen failed to stop at a red light at the intersection of Gunn Highway and West Linebaugh Avenue.
When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Kitchen did not stop, but officers followed him and observed him parking the vehicle in a garage.
When police arrested Kitchen, he had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, smelled of alcohol and had urinated on himself, the release said. Kitchen struggled to complete a field sobriety test and had a breath alcohol content of 0.142. The legal limit is 0.08.
“Driving while drunk is not only irresponsible, it will not be tolerated,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “It puts the lives of everyone on the road at risk, and my deputies acted swiftly to prevent a tragic situation.”
Kitchen was arrested on suspicion of DUI and eluding arrest and was booked into Hillsborough County Jail but has since been released.
