Lawrenceburg elementary school teacher charged with DUI on school property
A Lexington man has been charged with DUI after allegedly striking a sign at Saffell Street Elementary School in Anderson County where he worked, according to an arrest citation.
The teacher, Christopher Harrod (whose first name was spelled Christophr in police and court records), resigned Tuesday and was very apologetic, Anderson County Schools’ Superintendent Sheila Mitchell said Wednesday. Harrod was arrested at 3:33 p.m. Friday after he had been found intoxicated on school property at about the same time school was dismissing, police said in court records.
According to state records, Christopher Harrod was teaching for the Anderson district on a one-year emergency certificate awarded July 1. He was designated a Rank IV with 96 to 128 semester hours of approved college training or the equivalent.
On Friday, Harrod had left the school before returning, the Anderson News reported.
Lawrenceburg police officers found Harrod passed out inside a Ford F-150, which was parked on campus, according to the arrest citation filed in court. Officers asked him to roll down his window and Harrod partially complied.
When officers asked Harrod to exit the vehicle, Harrod rolled up his window and said he did not have to talk, according to court records. Harrod stayed in the vehicle with the window up for approximately 10 minutes before getting out.
Police said Harrod was verbally noncompliant after exiting the vehicle. He was asked to perform field sobriety tests, which he refused, stating he “knew his rights.”
According to the citation, Harrod refused to submit to a blood test after unsuccessfully contacting his lawyer.
This story was originally published November 3, 2021 at 12:07 PM.
