Channel 13 reporter arrested for DUI

1/7/2004

Gordon Boyd, an anchorman and a reporter for WTVG-TV, Channel 13, had a blood-alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he was arrested for driving under the influence last month, according to police reports.

Mr. Boyd, 41, of 6134 Welsford Ct., Maumee, was arrested by Washington Township police at 2:39 a.m. Dec. 28 at Alexis Road and Raintree Parkway. His blood-alcohol content was 0.15, according to a police report. The legal limit to drive is 0.08.

He initially was stopped for driving 65 mph in a 50 mph zone, the police report said.

He said yesterday he was drinking before he was arrested and intends not to drink again.

“What I did was an extremely irresponsible thing,” Mr. Boyd said. “I have, over the past couple of years, had a tendency to, shall we say, self-medicate with alcohol. And I got into a situation where I used poor judgment.”

He said he has enrolled in a company employee-assistance program to deal with his drinking, which he noticed had been increasing but the “red flag wasn't high enough.”

Mr. Boyd is an anchorman for the 5:30 p.m. newscast Monday through Friday. He also is a reporter. He has been at the station since Aug. 6, 2001. He has not been suspended and was working yesterday.

Brian Trauring, the station's news director, said Mr. Boyd's arrest was an “internal personnel matter,” so he couldn't comment.

Mr. Boyd pleaded not guilty in Toledo Municipal Court last month. His next court appearance is set for Jan. 15.