Executive director of Collier County Education Association charged with DUI

COLLIER COUNTY — The executive director of the Collier County Education Association was arrested Monday and charged with DUI property damage and his second DUI in five years, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

Jonathan Tuttle, 43, flipped his 1996 Ford Explorer on Goodlette-Frank Road just after 10 p.m. Monday, his arrest report states.

Tuttle told deputies he was traveling in the outside northbound lane of Goodlette-Frank when a dog entered the roadway, the report says. The deputy reported that Tuttle’s story was not believable.

After observing tire and rim marks, the deputy stated that he believed Tuttle’s SUV struck the curb, then pulled to its left on the wet roadway, causing it to rotate 180 degrees while sliding across three lanes of traffic. The report said that deputies believed Tuttle then struck the median curb, causing it to rollover 90 degrees before stopping in the median on its right side.

The report says the deputy smelled a mild odor of alcohol coming from Tuttle’s mouth. After failing field sobriety exercises, Tuttle refused to take a breath test, according to the arrest report.

He was transported by Collier County EMS to an area hospital, where deputies later learned Tuttle’s blood alcohol level. His level was redacted from the arrest report.

Once he was medically cleared, Tuttle was transported to the Naples jail.

He posted bail Tuesday morning.

The 43-year-old Naples resident works as the executive director of the Collier County Education Association, which is the organization that represents many Collier County School District teachers. Among other duties, Tuttle participates as a member of the negotiating team for the teachers’ contract with the school district.

School district spokesman Joe Landon said the district had no comment concerning the arrest since Tuttle does not work for the school system.

Tuttle and Collier County Education Association board members could not be reached for comment.