Report: Yelm High School principal arrested on suspicion of DUI

Yelm High School Principal Ryan Akiyama has been put on paid leave after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI, speeding and possession of a dangerous weapon, according to the Nisqually Valley News.

After the arrest on April 28, the Yelm paper reports Akiyama appeared in Thurston County District Court on April 29, went back to work on April 30 and May 1, then was put on paid leave May 2.

A spokeswoman for Yelm Community Schools told the paper Akiyama will remain on leave while the district investigates.

According to the Nisqually Valley News:

Just after midnight April 28, a Sunday, a Washington State Patrol trooper pulled Akiyama over in downtown Olympia after he passed the trooper without his headlights on. He also was driving 10 miles per hour over the 25 mph speed limit, the trooper reported.

After he got out of the car, he allegedly told the trooper he’d had 3-4 drinks since 6 p.m. The trooper reported Akiyama nearly fell down more than once during a field sobriety test, and the trooper found brass knuckles in one of Akiyama’s pockets.

Three other people were in the vehicle and someone had vomited down the side of it, the paper reports.

Akiyama was taken to the Olympia Police Department for blood alcohol tests, which produced results of 0.123, 0.124, 0.125 and 0.128, according to the paper. The legal limit for driving in Washington state is 0.08.

This story was originally published May 8, 2019 at 8:46 PM.