Margaret M. Robinson, an associate professor in the School of Social Work, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence less than an hour before she had a scheduled class Thursday afternoon.

“I was not drinking, I was not under the influence of any substance and that will be proven,” said Robinson, a former research supervisor for preventive education about drinking and driving at Virginia Commonwealth University.

According to the Athens-Clarke County police report:

An officer observed Robinson’s vehicle stopped at a red light on Baxter Street. When the light turned green, her vehicle remained still. When the vehicle began to move, it struck a curb during a right turn.

Her vehicle continued straight, hitting a curb where people were walking. The officer turned on his lights and Robinson pulled the vehicle over, hitting the curb once more.

When asked, Robinson told the officer she had taken multiple substances. Later, the officer found five pill bottles in Robinson’s car and purse, all of which were returned to her.

Names of the specific pills were redacted from the police report.

Robinson consented to take field sobriety tests. During an eye test, Robinson “was very drowsy” and closed her bloodshot eyes for 10 seconds while the officer was talking to her.

Robinson missed her heel-to-toe steps 18 out of 21 times and put her foot down three times during the one leg stand test.

Robinson was transported to Athens Regional Medical Center for blood tests, then brought to the ACC jail where she was issued two citations.

See the police documents online at www.redandblack.com.