News and Investigations

A guidance counselor who works for Loughman Oaks Elementary School near Davenport was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff's Office at around 8:30 PM, Wednesday, May 12, 2021.

45-year-old Rachael Tederous of Davenport, was charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI), a misdemeanor.

"Her decision to drive under the influence could have easily injured or killed someone. A person who works as a guidance counselor at a school, whose job is to help young children, should set a better example." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.

A deputy responded to a call about a reported reckless driver in a black Dodge pickup truck, and located the truck near US 27 and Legacy Park Boulevard. As the deputy got closer to the truck, she saw it nearly hit a mini van, so a traffic stop was initiated.

Ms. Tederous was the lone occupant of the truck.

The deputy noticed that Ms. Tederous' speech was slurred and her breath had the odor of an alcoholic beverage. However, the woman told the deputy that she was having problems with her blood sugar.

A medic from Polk County Fire Rescue checked Ms. Tederous and determined her blood sugar was fine. While she was being checked, the deputy noticed a mostly-empty bottle of Jose Cuervo Tequila in the door.

Ms. Tederous informed the deputy that she was on the way to pick up two children from the nearby park. A deputy on scene coordinated to have someone else retrieve the children.

During a Standardized Field Sobriety Test, Ms. Tederous had difficulty performing maintaining her balance and yelled at the deputy, "This is bull****, and you're bull****," then refused to continue the test.

She was arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail, where she either refused or was unable to exhale the necessary amount of air for a breath alcohol test.

Rachael Tederous was charged with DUI. A check of her prior criminal history revealed no prior arrests.