TV anchor Roundtree faces DUI charge, says he'll fight it
By Times Staff
Published December 4, 2005
CLEARWATER - WTSP-Ch. 10 anchor Reginald Roundtree faces a DUI charge after police stopped him going nearly twice the speed limit on the Courtney Campbell Parkway.
Roundtree was stopped about 11:35 p.m. Friday at a gas station where the parkway enters Clearwater. He submitted to field sobriety tests, in which he "displayed several clues of impairment," according to an arrest report.
The report said Roundtree had the odor of alcohol on his breath and "bloodshot, watery eyes."
Officer Melissa Harris asked him to take a breath test but he refused. Roundtree, 47, was booked into county jail and released on bail shortly before noon Saturday.
In a telephone interview from his Palm Harbor home, Roundtree insisted he was not drunk and said he would fight the charge. He said he told Harris that the accuracy of the blood-alcohol machines has been called into question.
In at least two counties, court rulings have blocked the use of breath test results against DUI defendants.
Roundtree said he had a beer at the Tampa Bay Lightning game then another drink at the Blue Martini.
Though the arrest report indicates otherwise, Roundtree said he performed the field sobriety tests without problem. He said red eyes were the result of allergies.
