Monday, Oct. 26, 2009

Atlantic City mayor: Tests prove no DUI

The mayor of Atlantic Beach said an independent test proves her innocence on a drunken driving charge.

Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce says urine and hair tests done at a Sumter lab show she had no alcohol in her system when she was arrested last month. A State Law Enforcement Division urine test also showed no alcohol in Pierce's system when she was arrested Sept. 16.

Pierce faces charges in separate cases including resisting arrest, public disorderly conduct, hit and run and leaving the scene of an accident. Town officials want Gov. Mark Sanford to remove Pierce, but state law says the governor can only remove an elected municipal official after a grand jury indictment for a "crime involving moral turpitude."

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