Perryville Elementary teacher charged with DUI
Published 3:49 pm Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Jessica Speake, a teacher employed by the Boyle County School District, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on Aug. 5.
She was also charged with resisting arrest and careless driving. Speake was arrested in Garrard County and taken to the Jessamine County Detention Center. Just before midnight on Aug. 5, Lancaster police noticed a vehicle swerving on Richmond Road.
According to the arrest report, K9 Officer B. Hopper with the Lancaster Police Department conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, driven by Speake, for swerving on the road at 11:24 p.m. The vehicle crossed the white outside fog line twice, and crossed the double yellow line twice, according to the report.
The report says that when Hopper requested Speake’s license, registration and proof of insurance, she stared at Hopper until he requested a second time for the documents. After the second request, Speake gave her license, but did not produce registration or proof of insurance. Hopper asked for the other two documents, then she only gave the insurance to the vehicle and not the registration. After asking again for the registration, Speake finally provided it.
“The above subject had a blank stare on her face and just continued to look forward and would not make eye contact with K9 Officer Hopper,” the report states. “Hopper could smell an odor of alcoholic beverages coming from the vehicle. Upon asking the above subject if she had anything to drink, she just stared at K9 Officer Hopper.”
Two deputies from the Garrard County Sheriff’s Department, Willard and Allen, came to assist. When they asked Speake to step out of the vehicle and perform a field sobriety test, she would not comply.
“Hopper and the deputies asked [her] over approximately 10 times to exit the vehicle, in which she did not comply and continued to prolong the traffic stop,” the report states. “Upon opening the driver door to get the above subject out, the male passenger in the vehicle then grabbed her and pulled her back into the vehicle.”
According to a report written by Willard, “When the male passenger was placed into custody, I attempted to get the above subject out of the vehicle and she began to resist again, refusing to place her hands behind her back.”
Speake was placed in custody at 11:46 p.m. and taken to the Lancaster Police Department. She submitted to taking a breath test, which was performed at 12:36 a.m. on Aug. 6. The result showed a 0.17 blood-alcohol level. Speake was taken to the Jessamine County Detention Center.
Speake did not respond to a request for comment.
Speake was the 2022-23 Teacher of the Year for Perryville Elementary School. In the last school year, she taught second and third grade and special education. Boyle County Superintendent Mark Wade confirmed that Speake is still employed by the district.
However, when asked if there have been any disciplinary actions taken in response to the arrest, Wade said he could not comment. School officials generally cannot share information on personnel issues.
“As superintendent, I strive to administer the business of the school district in a manner that serves the best interest of our students, which includes all personnel matters,” Wade said.