A Clarksville school principal was recently arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Alternative School principal, 55, was allegedly spotted by a police officer using radar, going 65 miles per hour in a 45-mph Fort Campbell Boulevard speed zone.

The officer also claimed to have seen the principal's pick-up truck swerving in three lanes of southbound traffic.

The police officer also reported that the principal smelled of alcohol after he had been pulled over.

In addition, the man reportedly had trouble answering the officer's questions. He also had a handgun in his possession, The Tennessean reports.

He told the officer that he had had two rum drinks earlier. He failed his field sobriety test, however, according to the officer's report.

He now faces a pair of charges: DUI and possession of a handgun while under the influence of alcohol.

He was released later in the day on bond.

In an unrelated matter, a former Tennessee state trooper is facing those very same charges.

The trooper used to be assigned to the Cookeville district, about 125 miles southeast of Clarksville.

A media report noted that the charges are both Class A misdemeanors that carry possible sentences of up to 11 months and 29 days in jail.

Law enforcement officials were tight-lipped about an incident allegedly occurred in March involving the former trooper. He was fired from his job in June for "gross misconduct" following an internal investigation of his role in the incident.

Our law firm handles cases similar to the ones described in this post. If you would like more information, please visit our Clarksville DUI page.

Source: The Tennessean, "Clarksville principal faces DUI charges," Aug. 6, 2012