Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann found herself in handcuffs late Wednesday evening after Naples Police Department officers arrested her on suspicion of driving under the influence. As reported by NBC Miami, Heitmann was detained with a charge of DUI, specifically noting a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15 or higher. In Florida, the threshold for legal intoxication is a BAC of 0.08.
While initial reports from authorities indicated that Heitmann was charged with having a person under 18 in the vehicle at the time of her arrest, the Naples Police Department clarified the situation. "The statute utilized for charging purposes states either a BAC over a certain number or a minor in the vehicle. In this case it was used because of the BAC samples that were provided," the department explained, as mentioned in a Fox 4 report.
Following her arrest at approximately 10:46 pm, records confirm that the 61-year-old mayor was booked into the Collier County Jail. The arrest came several months after Heitmann narrowly won re-election in March, a victory secured by a mere 22 votes, which necessitated a recount.
The Naples Police Department intends to release more information as their investigation continues. However, the circumstances surrounding Heitmann's arrest, as of now, remain notably opaque.
