SA treasurer steps down

By Shaun Zinck

DeKALB | The treasurer for the Student Association stepped down Monday after being charged with driving under the influence Sunday morning.

Darrell Nelson, 22, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of over .08 and improper lane usage.

In an interview Monday night, Nelson told the Northern Star he is resigning as treasurer of the SA.

“I have decided to step down as treasurer in the best interest of the organization,” Nelson said. “I do not wish to comment on my actions this weekend. It was very foolish of me, and I apologize for my actions.”

According to a police report, Nelson was given a breathalyzer test after a 20-minute observation at the DeKalb Police Department. Nelson blew a .188, according to the report.

Nelson was reportedly driving northbound on Annie Glidden Road at 3:48 a.m. Sunday. According to the report, an officer saw Nelson make a wide left turn onto Annie Glidden Road and ended up driving up onto the curb.

The officer pulled Nelson over along the 500 block of Annie Glidden Road. The report stated Nelson’s eyes were “blood shot, glassy and his speech was slurred.”

The officer noted in the report an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Nelson’s vehicle. Nelson admitted to drinking one-and-a-half glasses of wine prior to the traffic stop, according to the report.

Nelson reportedly failed three field sobriety tests. Nelson failed the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, where the subject follows the officers finger with their eyes. A DeKalb Police corporal said the more a person drinks, the more nystagmus the eyes will show. Nelson also failed the walk and turn and the one leg stand tests, according to the report.

After failing the sobriety tests, the officer placed Nelson under arrest and his vehicle was towed by Lovett’s Towing, according to the report.

Nelson was released after posting his driver’s license and $100 bond. He received a court date of April 29 and was released.

The SA Constitution states that a student can be removed from executive office for “academic misconduct, failure to keep accurate records, financial misconduct, neglect of duty, abuse of privileges or office and/or criminal behavior,” according to Article VII, Section 2.