Naples mayor is arrested for DUI as bodycam footage shows the moment she fails sobriety test after ‘driving over someone’s mailbox’
Naples mayor Teresa Heitmann has been arrested for driving under the influence after she allegedly drove over someone’s mailbox.
The Republican, 61, was pulled over on Wednesday night after a couple told police she had followed them home, stopped her car on the grass in front of their house and appeared inebriated.
‘I think the mayor is drunk and she just, she just literally… oh, she just drove over our mailbox,’ the caller said on the 911 call, as reported by WBBH. ‘She’s claiming to the mayor… I don’t know who she is.’
Heitmann is then heard in the background saying she is ‘mayor Teresa Heitmann.’
Dashcam footage captured the interaction between Heitmann and responding offers.
Naples mayor Teresa Heitmann has been arrested for driving under the influence after she allegedly drove over someone’s mailbox
Dashcam footage captured the interaction between Heitmann and responding offers
When one of the officer referred to her as ‘Mayor,’ Heitmann replied: ‘No, don’t call me mayor. I am Teresa Heitmann right now, I am not the mayor.’
Heitmann reportedly told officers the couple had cut her off in traffic.
She also claimed she had only had one glass of wine but failed a field sobriety test which led to her arrest.
The mayor then agreed to do a breath test at the Naples Jail Center.
Her breath test results were 0.155 and 0.169 – above the legal limit in Florida which is 0.08.
Heitmann was bonded out of jail at $500 on Thursday.
She has yet to comment on her arrest.
Her breath test results were 0.155 and 0.169 – above the legal limit in Florida which is 0.08
Heitmann was first elected in 2020 and re-elected as mayor last March. She is pictured with her family
Naples City Manager Jay Boodheshwar said in a statement: ‘City employees were saddened to learn about the incident involving the Mayor. We know this is a difficult time for Mayor Heitmann and will give her the space she needs.
‘The Naples community should rest assured our City team is committed and dedicated to serving our residents. I have 100% confidence that our City employees will not let this incident affect service delivery to our community.’
Heitmann was first elected in 2020 and re-elected as mayor last March.