GF mailman accused of drunk driving placed on unpaid leave, could face discipline

GRAND FORKS - A postal worker who Grand Forks police say was driving a delivery truck while drunk has been placed on unpaid leave, pending a resolution to his case, U.S. Postal Service spokesman Pete Nowacki said Monday.

Nowacki said Richard Leo Kuntz, 65, could be subject to discipline, considering that USPS policy prohibits on-duty employees from drinking alcohol or being intoxicated.

Police said an officer clocked Kuntz driving the truck more than 10 mph over the speed limit Saturday morning on 17th Avenue South. During the stop, the officer reportedly smelled alcohol on Kuntz's breath and administered a field-sobriety test.

Kuntz was booked into the Grand Forks County jail and posted $501 in bail shortly after, a correctional officer said.

Court records show that Kuntz, of Grand Forks, was convicted in 2002 of driving under the influence. The circumstances of that offense were not immediately known. As per policy, a court official said, the file on that charge has been destroyed.

A message left at Kuntz's home Monday evening was not returned.