In a recent incident in Florida, a woman was apprehended by the police for driving under the influence. She had allegedly followed a couple to their residence, causing damage to their mailbox and ultimately parking her car on their lawn.
The woman is currently serving as the mayor of Naples, a medium-sized city located along the Gulf of Mexico. Naples is also part of the larger Naples-Marco Island metro area.
A woman named Teresa Heitmann, aged 61, has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) due to having a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.15 or higher, as stated in the records of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident took place on the night of Aug. 28, near a residence at the intersection of 16th Avenue and 3rd Street. According to a press release from the Naples Police Department, officers promptly responded to a 911 call made by a man who reported being followed home with his wife by a woman driving a silver vehicle.
Initially, the man stated that the woman was completely unfamiliar to them. Eventually, the situation changed when the woman revealed her true identity.
“Yeah, umm, it appears that the mayor may be under the influence and she has unfortunately driven over our mailbox,” the man can be heard reporting in a 911 audio obtained by Miami-based NBC affiliate WTVJ.
The dispatcher responds with surprise: “The mayor did?”
The man appears confused and informs the dispatcher that he is unsure about the woman’s claim of being the mayor. I’m not familiar with her.
The ongoing exchange persists.
“Did she ever provide her name or any other details?” the dispatcher asks.
The man inquires of the woman in his yard, “May I know your name, ma’am?”
Then, a woman’s voice announces: “Mayor Teresa Heitmann.”
The earned recognition is swiftly discarded when law enforcement shows up.
“Mrs. Mayor, could you please come over here for me?” According to a police officer, the TV station has obtained body-worn camera footage.
The confrontation becomes more intense in footage obtained by Cape Coral-based Fox affiliate WFTX.
An officer is seen in the footage telling the mayor that they are slurring their words a little bit.
She firmly denies the accusation: “No, sir. I am speaking clearly. I have remained composed here. Peacefully.
The officer dryly remarks, “Being calm is subjective.” I believe I’ve noticed you expressing your concerns to my officers on two occasions.
According to the police, the mayor was near her vehicle when they arrived at approximately 9:51 p.m. on that particular night.
According to the police department’s press release, officers suspected Mrs. Heitmann of being intoxicated and observed her in control of her vehicle during the call for service. Upon the investigating Officers’ request, Mrs. Heitmann willingly participated in field sobriety exercises. After the investigation was concluded, officers discovered enough evidence to arrest Mrs. Heitmann for driving while under the influence of an intoxicating substance.
According to reports, Heitmann claimed to have consumed only one glass of wine before getting behind the wheel. However, it is alleged that the couple involved in the incident abruptly changed lanes, causing a disruption in traffic. According to the police, she reportedly did not pass her field sobriety test and her blood alcohol content was measured twice using a breath analysis device.
According to reports, the mayor’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was reportedly measured at 0.155 and 0.169 in two separate tests. In Florida, the legal limit is set at 0.08.
According to Naples City Manager Jay Boodheshwar, city employees were deeply affected by the incident concerning the Mayor, as reported by WTVJ. “We understand that Mayor Heitmann is going through a challenging period and we will respect her need for privacy.”
Heitmann was released on Aug. 29 after posting a $500 bond.