Cumberland CID chair faces DUI charge

Tad Leithead appeared heavily intoxicated and failed roadside tests, deputies reported.

Cumberland CID Chair- man Tad Leithead is facing a charge of driving under the influence stemming from a Jan. 6 arrest in Forsyth County.

Shortly after 5 p.m. that day, law enforcement responded to a call about a driver who had parked in the middle of the road and was sitting on the pavement outside his vehicle, according to an incident report.

The dr iver, Le i thead, climbed back in and drove to a nearby parking lot where sheriff ’s deputies questioned him about his alcohol con- sumption.

According to the report, Leithead appeared heavily intoxicated and failed roadside sobriety and Breatha- lyzer tests.

“The Walk and Turn and the One Leg Stand evaluations were not administered due to Leithead’s inabil- ity to follow simple instructions or stand up without fall- ing over,” the report reads. “I asked Leithead multiple times if he wanted to continue ... and his response every time was ‘I just want to sit in my car.’ ”

Deputies also found a bottle of vodka in the vehicle.

Leithead, whose arrest was first reported by the Marietta Daily Journal, took over the CID last year after the former head of the orga- nization left with a severance package that suggested possible trouble behind the scenes.

The CID’s attorney, Lynn Rainey, said they are looking into the arrest and “has no comment at this time.”

Forsyth County Solicitor-General Bill Finch said Leithead’s next court date is scheduled for March 13.

Finch said he expects his office to seek anywhere from $700 to $1,000 in fines due to a prior DUI from 1984.

State law would also require Leithead to complete community service and a DUI risk reduction course.

“The state’s evidence that will be presented is that he had elevated blood alcohol content,” Finch said. He described the case as “pretty standard.”

Tad Leithead’s next court date is scheduled for March 13.