County administrator booked on DUI charges

GAINESVILLE — Washington County Administrator Pete Herbert is facing driving while under the influence charges in Alachua County. Herbert was charged with misdemeanor DUI alcohol or drugs first offense in Gainesville on Wednesday, Feb. 3.

County Commission Chairman Eddie Holman said that Herbert is on administrative leave with pay. A special called meeting of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled for Friday, 9 a.m. for the BOCC to discuss the issue and possibly take further action.

Holmes said that Herbert was on his way to a conference. According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Herbert was driving his 2008 Toyota Tundra pickup truck north on State 93 outside Gainesville when an officer observed the truck “weaving back and forth” and traveling 20 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone. The officer activated his emergency lights and after a time the truck managed to pull off the road safely.

According to the report several empty beer bottles were in the truck and other bottles were also found. Herbert failed three field sobriety tests and refused to take a breath test, according to the report. He was booked into Alachua County Jail on DUI charges, failure to exhibit driver’s license failure to maintain a single lane.

Herbert has been released from jail.