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County's Health Director Charged With Boating DUI

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By JOSH POLTILOVE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 31, 2008

TAMPA - The director of the Hillsborough County Health Department was arrested during Gasparilla on Saturday.

He was charged with boating under the influence, a misdemeanor.

Douglas A. Holt, 49, has no record of previous arrests in Florida.

"I have the highest regard and respect for all the law enforcement agencies," Holt, a physician, said in a telephone message. "I think they did an outstanding job during Gasparilla to ensure the safety of our boaters. I'm now dealing with a private issue that I'm working through with the support of my family and friends. It's a regrettable situation - one that I am sorry for, and can assure it will not be repeated."

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers arrested him at 4:40 p.m. Saturday. He was released from jail Sunday on $250 bail.

"We stopped Mr. Holt's vessel while he was operating it, and we have reason to believe that he was operating it under the influence of alcohol," conservation commission spokesman Gary Morse said.

The wildlife officials who pulled over Holt's boat initially said a man had accused Holt of hitting his boat, Holt said.

He said he told the officers, "I've only gone 50 feet. I didn't do it."

When Holt was approached by Officer Damon J. Pulaski, he had a flushed face with bloodshot, glassy eyes, according to an arrest report released Wednesday. Holt fumbled through his wallet while retrieving his license and took "a considerable amount of time" finding his registration.

Officers asked Holt to produce life jackets for everyone on the vessel, a life preserver to throw and a horn or whistle.

Holt showed Pulaski the required life jackets, and the officer asked Holt again to produce a life preserver.

"Mr. Holt clumsily walked to the stern of the vessel and pulled out more life jackets," the report says. "On his return to the middle of his vessel, he walked into one of his passengers, which knocked her to the side."

Holt later failed sobriety tests, according to the report.

The operator of the boat who accused Holt of striking his boat submitted a sworn statement regarding the incident, the report says. That person was given a boating accident form, which included Holt's information.

Holt, who began working for the Hillsborough County Health Department in 1996, is contracted through the University of South Florida, according to Judi Spann, a communications director for the Florida Department of Health.

He earns $204,000 a year as health department director.

Spann said the state health department wouldn't comment on whether Holt's job was in jeopardy.

"Regarding the recent arrest, it is an unfortunate incident and we are reviewing the circumstances," Spann wrote in an e-mail to The Tampa Tribune.

Law enforcement agencies including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported 107 arrests during Gasparilla, including nine on charges of boating under the influence.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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