Tampa DUI Lawyer Blog
A St. Petersburg police officer was arrested this weekend and is facing a DUI charge.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the 43-year-old was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk early Sunday morning.
He was stopped at the intersection of 102nd Avenue North and Thurston Groves Boulevard in Seminole because his passenger-side headlight wasn’t working.
After making contact with the man, deputies claim they smelled alcohol on his breath. The St. Petersburg officer was eventually arrested around 12:30 a.m.
A spokesperson with the St. Petersburg Police Department released a statement saying the department considers the arrest a very serious matter.
“Our Internal Affairs Unit has been notified and will be conducting their own investigation,” the spokesman said. The officer, “who has twelve years of service with our Department, will be reassigned administrative duties pending the final disposition of that inquiry.”
When a police officer is charged with a crime, it is very important that they speak with an attorney as soon as possible to make certain that their rights are protected. Anytime a case involves a law enforcement official, the State tends to aggressively prosecute these cases to show the public that police officers are not above the law. In many cases, the prosecutor may feel increased pressure to come down hard on the officer charged, so they may seek enhanced punishments or more severe consequences than they would for a regular citizen charged with the same crime.
A Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can investigate the facts surrounding the arrest in order to understand both sides. We will examine all the available evidence, and will employ the services of professional and experts when needed so that credible explanations can be provided to a judge or jury.
If you are a police officer that has been accused of committing a crime in St. Petersburg or the surrounding area, we can deliver the best defense necessary to protect your rights. Please call us today at 727-823-0000 or contact us online.