A candidate for Post 2 on the Fannin County Board of Commissioners has been arrested on driving under the influence and two other charges.
Fannin County jail records show Laurence Martin Syputa, 72, of 274 Coopers Creek Drive, Suches, was arrested Friday, April 22, and charged with DUI/alcohol, failure to drive within single lane, and open container in vehicle.
He was booked into the jail shortly after 1 p.m. and released two hours later under a $2,800 cash bond.
Syputa appears on the May 24 Democratic General Primary Election ballot as “Larry Syputa.”
According to a Georgia State Patrol report by trooper Ethan Hajnal, Syputa was traveling east on Silver Fox Trail a quarter mile west of its intersection with Amelia Lane when, negotiating a curve to the right, he traveled off the left side of the roadway striking a ditch and becoming stuck. Syputa said a deer jumped in front of him causing the crash.
Syputa was taken to Fannin Regional Hospital by Fannin County EMS, the report said.
The report estimated the time of the Thursday, April 21, crash at approximately 9:52 p.m.