Former Deputy Faces DUI Charges After Causing Brain Injury

This is what happened to a police officer in Florida. The 46-year-old man, a former Polk County deputy, was arrested on September 21 after causing a crash in July that caused injuries to himself and a woman.

The incident happened on July 27. The deputy, who was off duty at the time, was riding a motorcycle on U.S. 92, with a 41-year-old woman as a passenger. He was driving near the airport in Winter Haven when he lost control of the motorcycle. Both he and the woman were ejected. It is believed that the motorcycle was going as fast as 80 miles per hour in an area where the speed limit was 55 miles per hour.

Neither the man nor the woman were wearing a helmet. They both suffered serious injuries and were hospitalized. The woman is still in the hospital recovering from a brain injury, while the man is in physical therapy.

Test results showed that the man’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.14 at the time of the crash, which is almost double the state limit of 0.08. He faces DUI charges as a result. The man was hired as a trainee for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in April 2011. He became a deputy sheriff later that year. He was working as a general crimes detective at the time of his arrest. The man resigned after his arrest, but would have been fired had he not resigned.

The sheriff is disappointed with the deputy’s actions. He said he tells every deputy that if they drink and drive, they will go to jail and lose their job. He said he will work with the State Attorney’s Office to ensure that the man is held accountable for his actions.

DUI Defenses

Police officers will arrest someone for a DUI if they show evidence of intoxication. Some common signs include the odor of alcohol on a person, poor driving, bizarre behavior, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. If you are being accused of drunk driving, one of the best things you can do is prove that your behavior was caused by something else. For example, bloodshot eyes can be caused by allergies. A high BAC can sometimes be caused by mouthwash and medical conditions such as GERD and diabetes. If you fail a field sobriety test, a medical condition could be to blame. Plus, some people are just too clumsy and unbalanced to walk in a straight line or stand on one foot.

Seek Help for Your Criminal Defense Case

Drinking and driving is illegal, but many people still do it. When it leads to a crash and serious injuries, you need strong legal defense from an experienced lawyer.

Contact a Dade City & Zephyrhills DUI defense attorney from Madonna Law Group to start working on your case today. Act quickly to avoid issues with your driver’s license. To schedule a consultation, call (800) 557-0411 or fill out the online form.

Source:

clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/09/21/former-polk-deputy-accused-in-dui-crash-that-left-woman-with-brain-injury/