Brad Schmitt, who has served as an entertainment reporter for both The Tennessean and more recently for WKRN-Channel 2, was dismissed from the station on Monday following a weekend DUI arrest. This was Schmitt's second DUI in three years.
Matthew Zelkind, news director and station manager, told The City Paper that "Schmitt and News2 have parted ways." He declined to comment further on personnel matters.
A Metro police officer observed Schmitt driving his vehicle North on Dickerson Road Saturday night without his headlights on and pulled him over. In his report, the officer noted the "obvious odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle," adding that the "defendant appeared to be intoxicated and was seen to have watery, bloodshot red eyes."
Schmitt admitted to the officer that he had been drinking earlier and consented to a field sobriety test, but he refused to take a breathalyzer test. He was arrested and admitted after his Miranda rights had been read that he had been convicted of a DUI in 2007.
Schmitt was not immediately available for comment.