Crime & Safety

Berkeley Teacher Facing LSD, DUI Charges

A Berkeley High School teacher is facing charges of possessing LSD and driving under the influence after leaving a San Rafael restaurant-bar owned by Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, authorities said.

A Berkeley High School teacher is due in court Feb. 4 after he was pulled over in San Rafael last month, arrested for DUI and found to have LSD in his possession, authorities said. 

Douglas Haight, 51, of Berkeley, was pulled over shortly after 1 a.m. on Dec. 1 by San Rafael police for running a red light, according to police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher. He told police he had been at Terrapin Crossroads, a bar and restaurant owned by Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, she said.

When Haight was stopped in his Toyota Camry, he exhibited signs of intoxication and was administered a field sobriety test, Rohrbacher said.

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"He was very cooperative," she said.

Breath tests revealed blood alcohol levels of 0.13 and 0.12 percent, above the legal driving threshold of 0.08 percent, she said.

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A bottle of liquid breath mint in his belongings tested positive for LSD after a booking deputy at the Marin County jail became suspicious of its contents, Rohrbacher said.

Marin County Chief Deputy District Attorney Barry Borden said Haight was freed on $10,000 bail on Dec. 6.

Berkeley Unified School District board documents show Haight was hired in August as a full-time independent-study teacher at Berkeley High for a position slated to run through June 14, according to the Marin Independent Journal.

After his arrest, he lost his teaching credential and his position at Berkeley High, the Huffington Post said.

Haight is charged with two LSD counts, one for possession and one for bringing it into a jail, Rohrbacher said.

Borden said Haight is due back in court on Feb. 4 to set a date for a preliminary hearing on two felony drug charges and two misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.08.


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