
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 21, 1995                   TAG: 9509210062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

STATE POLICE INVESTIGATOR ACCUSED OF DUI

Roanoke police charged an off-duty Virginia State Police investigator with drunken driving and speeding Sept. 9.

John Richard Holt of Brookneal, an investigator in the state police's Appomattox bureau, was arrested about 2:30 a.m. after an officer saw him speeding in the 4500 block of Williamson Road Northwest.

Holt was clocked in his personal car going 63 mph in a 35-mph zone. The officer also smelled alcohol on Holt, according to Roanoke police. Holt registered 0.07 percent on his breath-alcohol test.

In Virginia, motorists are presumed intoxicated if they register 0.08 percent or above on a breath- or blood-alcohol test. If a person registers between 0.05 and 0.08 percent, the officer has discretion whether to place a charge of driving while under the influence, depending on other actions observed.

Holt's lawyer, William Cleaveland, said his client is under administrative review by state police but remains on active duty. Holt will challenge the charge in Roanoke General District Court next month.

by CNB