Lon Eilders
A chemistry teacher at East Hamilton Middle/High School is facing a charge of driving under the influence.
Lon Eilders, II, 34, of 6240 Carine Lane, Collegedale, was arrested in East Ridge early Friday morning.
Police said Eilders left the Knights Inn on Ringgold Road near I-75 with his car alarm going off. He pulled into the lot of the Kangaroo Express with the alarm still sounding loudly. Police said he then backed out of a parking space and took off westbound on Ringgold Road.
An East Ridge officer initiated emergency equipment at Camp Jordan and Ringgold Road.
He said the vehicle did not stop until it was on the on ramp to I-75 north. The alarm was still sounding on the vehicle.
The officer said when he walked up to the vehicle there was a strong odor of alcohol emitting from Eilders and he had bloodshot eyes and was very incoherent. He did poorly on several field sobriety tests, the officer said.
He said Eilders told him he drank six beverages from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. The stop was at 4 a.m.
The officer said Eilders told him he had been at the Knights Inn "to pick up boys thirty to forty."
Stacy Stewart, school personnel director, said, "At this time there is no suspension in place for Mr. Eilders. He reported his arrest in a timely fashion, and – in the absence of extenuating circumstances – HCDE typically does not suspend for a first-time DUI. Mr. Eilders knows to keep us up-to-date on his progression through this case, and to provide a court disposition upon its conclusion. Further determination of consequences, if any, will be made at that time."