Local Principal Arrested for DUI

The principal of Santa Ynez High School was arrested for driving under the influence last month.

Mark Swanitz, the 51-year-old principal, was arrested on October 21 after a traffic collision in Buellton, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The CHP report states another vehicle was stopped in a driveway on SR-246, west of Skytt Mesa Drive, when the driver made an unsafe turning movement directly into the path of travel of Swanitz’s vehicle resulting in a non-injury collision.

During CHP’s collision investigation, it was determined Swanitz was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision and was subsequently arrested. 

Swanitz has been principal of Santa Ynez High School since 2010. He was previously the principal of Dos Pueblos High School from 2006 to 2010.

(Mark Swanitz / Facebook)

Edhat Staff

Written by Edhat Staff

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  1. What really cracks me up is the post on Facebook everyone defending his DUI Driving because he is a good guy who does a good job…We are all human after all and the other guy who was pulling out of a driveway he might be at fault too but what does his nationality have to do with the case? You condemn the casino and people of color who make mistakes but NOT THE GOOD GUYS….

  2. This is exactly what I am talking about Roger. No one brought race (people of color) up here once. You decided it was pertinent. I never see you making comments about race when there are mug shots coming in everyday from crimes like rape, burglary, GTA, high speed chases, drunk driving with kids… Just when its a highschool teacher who was drunk and T Boned a person who was driving like an idiot sober. Seems like a fair way to cast judgment. This guy screwed up big time and should pay for it. His race has nothing to do with it. If you are so outraged by a guy that could not avoid a collision (allegedly/probably because he was drunk) why are you not ripping your hair out at every rape, murder, and robbery that happens disproportionately from the people who you feel are being stigmatized? This is what I have been told would be defined as a “microgression” if there ever was such a thing

  3. People my age (54) all learned how to drive drunk in high school. We were more afraid of getting the car home past curfew! Sometimes the cops would pull you over and offer to drive behind you to make sure you made it safely. Times have changed!

  4. DUI is never okay; there is no excuse for anyone, no matter who you are. If guilty and the conviction is upheld, he should humbly step down from his position as Principal . Regarding name-calling, we are experiencing a revival of it in our country, thanks to the example of the POTUS.

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