Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann was arrested Monday night for violating her probation.
Her probation stems from a February no-contest plea to a DUI arrest that happened in 2024. Police reported her as driving with her blood alcohol content twice the legal limit.
This time, police say she had something else in her system. Heitmann was arrested after failing a drug test in March, where she tested positive for cannabinoids.
A judge granted Heitmann a $10,000 bond with restrictions during her first appearance in court Tuesday afternoon. Her defense attorney produced new documents showing two negative drug tests that were done by a local medical doctor after she failed her probation drug test.
People in Naples have mixed feelings about her arrest. Some say she should resign, others say give her another chance, and some are raising questions about her alleged substance use.
“I would not vote for her, but somebody else might,” one Naples resident said.
“If she’s the mayor, she overcame the other obstacles. Maybe she could overcome this one, too,” another resident said.
Others believe any public official in this situation should step down.
“Any mayor should resign. I mean, part of being in the public eye is being an example,” a resident said.
“People who are connected get cut breaks,” another resident said.
Some residents expressed concern about potential substance abuse issues.
“You are addicted to something. You need help. You need professional help,” one resident said.
During her court appearance, the judge allowed new documents to be presented. The documents show a negative urine sample and hair follicle test done by a local doctor on the same day. Court documents show the mayor failed her probation drug test.
“The documents speak for themselves. They’re signed off by a medical doctor, local medical doctor,” her defense attorney said.
“On March 26, the same day that there’s the allegation that she tested positive for the cannabinoids, according to the warrant, she presented within an hour to advanced medical and provided a urine screen the same day,” the attorney said.
Her next court date is May 11 at 9 a.m.