Pinellas County elementary teacher arrested for DUI in Lake Wales: PCSO
Photo courtesy: Polk County Sheriff's Office
LAKE WALES, Fla. - A third-grade teacher from Pinellas County was arrested late Friday night for driving under the influence in Lake Wales, according to authorities.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of Leslie Spence, 52, of Tampa, for DUI. According to PCSO, Spence told deputies she was a third-grade teacher at Sky View Elementary School in Pinellas Park.
READ: Tampa man accused of impersonating police officer while wearing Buccaneers jersey
At around 10:44 p.m. on Friday, a witness reported a vehicle traveling east on State Route 60 at around 25 mph and swerving across lanes. A PCSO deputy caught up with the silver Ford SUV Spence was driving and conducted a traffic stop on SR 60, just west of US 27 in Lake Wales.
According to PCSO, the deputy noted Spence had slurred speech with a strong odor of alcoholic beverage, and her eyes were bloodshot and watery. She was placed under arrest and charged with DUI with a Breath Alcohol Content of .15 or Higher.
Authorities said she told the responding deputy, "my father is a lawyer, and he will sue every single one of you."
Sheriff Grady Judd spoke on Spence's arrest at a press conference for a separate incident on Monday.
"It warms our heart. We love it when drunks tell us, ‘I’m gonna sue you.' Well good, get in line," Judd said. "I mean, you're drunk, lady. You're drunk. D-R-U-N-K is how you spell it when you're sober; I don't know how you spell it when you're drunk."
Spence blew two samples, with breath alcohol levels of 0.213 G/210L and 0.214 G/210L. Those are just under three times above the legal limit of .08.
"Children learn from adults and educators, so if you fall under both of those categories, it is imperative that you’re setting a good example," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Since Ms. Spence failed to do that, we’re going to use this as a teaching moment—don’t drive drunk. It’s dangerous and you’ll end up in detention at the Polk County Jail."