Mark Wheetley, the city manager of Fortuna and former Arcata councilmember and mayor, was arrested yesterday evening on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The arrest happened a year and a half after his previous DUI arrest, and in roughly the same location.

Shortly after 7 p.m. last night, Wheetley was driving on State Route 255, just north of New Navy Base Rd., when he was pulled over for speeding, according to California Highway Patrol spokesman Cy May. Wheetley’s registration tags were also expired. 

“An officer contacted him and observed signs and symptoms of alcohol inebriation,” May said. 

Wheetley was given a field sobriety test and then arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or more. 

Wheetley, a former environmental specialist with the state of California, served three and a half terms on the Arcata City Council, including two stints as mayor, left halfway through his fourth term to take the job of Fortuna city manager. 

In 2015 and early 2016 Wheetley mounted a campaign for Humboldt County supervisor,  but he withdrew his candidacy less than a month after his previous DUI arrest, citing “personal and professional obligations.”

In California, a second DUI can result in a one-year suspension of your driver’s license by the Department of Motor Vehicles. A conviction carries a mandatory jail term from 96 hours to one year, though that term can sometimes be converted to house arrest or work service.

The Outpost reached out to Wheetley via email and will update this post if we hear back.