Charlotte High School assistant principal Nicholas Brown arrested, accused of DUI

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. —

An assistant principal at Charlotte High School was arrested early Saturday morning, according to an arrest report from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies say that they responded to a call about a reckless driver at the intersection of Gasparilla Road and Marathon Road. They add that the person who called said that the driver drove on the median and destroyed a median separation sign before driving away.

When deputies stopped the vehicle, they say, the car was missing a large section of the front bumper. The driver identified himself as Nicholas Brown, 43. Deputies say they smelled alcohol when Brown opened his door.

Brown reportedly told deputies that, including his position as an assistant principal at Charlotte High School, he also works as a bartender at Gasparilla Inn at night.

CCSO says that Brown had a hard time keeping his balance and that he admitted to having more dinks than he should have. They add that he failed field sobriety tests. Results from a breathalyzer test performed later revealed that his blood alcohol level was between .189 and .181, the arrest report says.

Brown was arrested by deputies and charged with a DUI, damage to property, and leaving the scene of a crash. While deputies were searching Brown's vehicle, they say they found a THC vape cartridge. When questioned on it, they say that Brown told them it was a friend's, but couldn't give a coherent answer as to why it was in his car.

This led to additional charges against Brown for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and drug paraphernalia.

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