Milton High Principal Resigns After DUI Arrest

Milton High School’s principal has resigned after he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence over the weekend.

Nathan John Buhl, 37, of Canton submitted his resignation on Wednesday. He was charged by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office with DUI, weaving over the roadway, reckless driving and operating auto in unsafe conditions following a single-vehicle accident that occurred Saturday evening.

Fulton County Schools Superintendent Robert Avossa said he was “disappointed in the charges against Dr. Buhl, but believe he has done the right thing by stepping down as principal.”

“He is taking full responsibility for his actions and their consequences, and this sends the right message to the students and community we serve,” he added.

Buhl was slated to lead Milton High School once the 2014-15 school year started on Aug. 11. Before he was tapped to serve at Milton, he was the principal at Crabapple Middle School.

According to an incident report released by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was dispatched to a single-vehicle accident on Highway 20/Cumming Highway at Old Mill Road around 10:30 p.m. July 26.

The deputy noticed a silver four-door vehicle, a 2013 Chrysler 200, “resting on its driver’s side, wedged between two trees,”the report states. The vehicle’s windshield removed so first responders could remove the driver — Buhl — out of the vehicle.

“I observed marks in the grass east of the final rest, leading back to a curve in the roadway over 2 separate front lawns and a paved driveway,” the deputy wrote. “I observed vehicle parts and debris spread all over the lawns. I observed the front passenger side tire of the suspect(‘s) vehicle was gone and only the rim and a small ring of rubber remained. I observed the rim was ground down, like it had been driven on for a long distance.”

A paramedic on the scene told the deputy Buhl admitted to consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel of the vehicle, which matched the description of a vehicle involved in two hit-and-run accidents in Forsyth County.

The Cherokee deputy met with a deputy from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office at North Fulton Hospital where Buhl was being treated for his injuries.

“The driver was asked about the hit and run accidents and he stated he did not recall either of the wrecks, but admitted to being on Highway 400 earlier this evening and there being a wreck involved,” the report states. “He admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages tonight, but could not recall how many.”

Buhl consented to a blow into an alcohol sensor test, which registered the former principal’s blood alcohol level was 0.193, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

According to WSB-TV, Buhl notified the staff of his decision to resign in an email penned on Wednesday. In the letter, Buhl reportedly said he was “humbled and ashamed” after the arrest, which he described as the “worst decisions of my life.”

(Photo: Nathan John Buhl, 37, was charged by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office with DUI, weaving over the roadway, reckless driving and operating auto in unsafe conditions in a single-vehicle accident that occurred Saturday evening. He resigned as principal of Milton High School on Wednesday. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff’s Office).