TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A member of the Hillsborough Community College Board of Trustees is facing a DUI charge.

High-profile local businessman Aakash Patel is accused of driving at nearly twice the legal limit before he was stopped and arrested by Tampa police.

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8 on Your Side

Patel serves on several local boards not only at HCC but as the board chair for the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County. Despite these high-profile roles in the public eye, 8 On Your Side is still waiting for Tampa Police to turn over body cam video nearly three weeks after his arrest.

“I think it’s time for new leadership next generation of leadership to step up,” said Patel in a former interview with News Channel 8.

Patel is a familiar face among Hillsborough County leaders. He is the founder of Elevate, a business development consulting firm. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Patel to the Hillsborough Community College Board of Trustees in 2021. He ran unsuccessfully for Hillsborough County Commission as a Republican in 2018.

Tampa Police said a patrol officer spotted Patel behind the wheel of a speeding BMW in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 28. According to an arrest affidavit, the officer saw Patel “having difficulty maintaining a single lane and slowing down and speeding up for no apparent reason.”

The officer pulled Patel over at the intersection of West Cypress Street and North Lois Avenue, just a block from I-275. The officer wrote that he noticed, “multiple indicators of impairment including glassy eyes and slurred speech and the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle.”

Patel told the officer he was coming from a work event in Tampa where he drank before driving. He then underwent a field sobriety test and a breath test, which indicated he was driving nearly twice over the legal limit.

He was arrested on a DUI charge and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail.

Patel’s attorney, Mike Isaak, gave 8 On Your Side this statement on his client’s arrest: “We have entered a plea of not guilty and maintain his innocence… and that we are going to let his case play out in court.”

“Hillsborough County has a program called the RIDR program, (Reducing Impaired Driving Recidivism) and essentially it’s for the first-time offenders that if you complete some certain prerequisites, the case can be reduced to reckless driving, so unless there’s something extraordinary about the case, he may be eligible for the RIDR program,” said Bryant Camareno, defense attorney.

If Patel is eligible, Camareno said his penalty will be probation and community service. But if not, Patel’s license could be suspended. he’ll have to do probation and in a worst-case scenario- jail time.

Patel has served as chairman on the Board of the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County for the past decade, after being appointed in 2014 by then-Gov. Rick Scott.

“I am not a parent, and so I’m dealing with children and young educators that have so much patience to teach these young children, and I’m thinking this is impressive,” Patel said in a former interview with News Channel 8.

Responding to his arrest, the Early Learning Coalition sent us this statement: “Chair Patel informed the organization of his arrest within a reasonable time frame. The ELCHC is committed to transparency and upholding the trust of our community, partners, and stakeholders. As such, we are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as appropriate.”

8 On Your Side also reached out to HCC about Patel’s arrest, and a spokesperson shared this statement: “The Board of Trustees is appointed by the Governor. Aakash Patel has been a diligent trustee and supporter of the college.”

The judge assigned to his case has recused herself, court records do not show why. Patel has bonded out of jail. He is expected back in court next month.

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