Atlantic Beach Mayor requests jury trial on DUI charge

Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce Sturdivant has requested a jury trial on a driving under the influence charge in Conway, according to court officials.

Sturdivant was set to make an initial appearance in court on Wednesday, but she has requested a jury trial. Her trial has not been scheduled, but is expected to be set for later this year.

The 62-year-old was arrested Jan. 8 after Conway police said she failed a field sobriety test minutes after they saw her driving erratically on city streets.

A dash camera video showed Sturdivant telling the officers they are conspiring against her because of her position in the town of Atlantic Beach.

“I have done nothing. I came from church. I don’t even drink,” Sturdivant said in the video. “You know I’m the mayor of Atlantic Beach, that’s why you’re doing this.”

Sturdivant remains free from jail on a $1,022 personal recognizance bail.

According to the Conway police report, the mayor was stopped because she was starting and stopping her sport utility vehicle at several locations on city streets. On two occasions, Sturdivant’s vehicle remained stopped at traffic lights when they turned green, officers reported.

An officer turned on his vehicle’s blue lights in an attempt to stop Sturdivant, but she kept driving and finally stopped on the Main Street bridge.

An officer told Pierce she was pulled because she “stopped at two green lights and was straddling the dotted line,” the report shows.

The officer reported that Sturdivant’s eyes appeared to be glassy.

The officer reported that during the test she swayed, used her arms for balance, and put her foot down many times, when the test called for her to lift a foot.

Sturdivant was arrested for driving under the influence and handcuffed.

Officers found three medications in her purse – Flexeril, Toradol and Percocet.

Police said Sturdivant’s blood alcohol registered at 0.0 at the police station.

Officers asked for a urine sample from Sturdivant, but she refused after learning she could not keep the sample. Officers told her that if she gave a sample at Conway Hospital, the urine would be sent to a lab.