Deputy in Charleston County charged with DUI

On Behalf of | Feb 4, 2016 | Drunk Driving Charges

Citizens of South Carolina trust the police force to provide protection from harm. Usually, these expectations are fulfilled, but once in a while, even those in a position of authority can make a mistake. Reportedly, this is what recently happened when a sheriff’s deputy with the Charleston County sheriff’s office was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

The incident occurred at about 4 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24. Reports indicate that a Summerville police officer discovered the deputy asleep at the wheel of a pickup truck while stopped at a green light. After honking the horn and waiting through several cycles of the traffic light, the police officer exited his vehicle and approached the truck. Reports say the police officer had to knock several times before the deputy awoke.

The police officer reportedly smelled alcohol but the deputy refused both a field sobriety test and a blood test. As a result, his driver’s license has been suspended. The deputy is scheduled to appear in the Summerville Municipal court by mid-February. The 26-year-old man has served with the Charleston County sheriff’s office as a patrol deputy for just over one year. He is now on administrative leave with pay as a consequence of his drunk driving charges.

No one wants to be arrested on drunk driving charges, but sometimes mistakes on either side of the wheel can make a person’s worst nightmare come true. Regardless of the circumstances of the arrest, it is vital for those facing drunk driving charges to seek legal representation early on. A DUI attorney can investigate the details of the situation and the arrest to make sure the defendant’s rights were not violated.

Source: The Post and Courier, “Charleston County deputy faces DUI charge after falling asleep in traffic, police say,” Andrew Knapp, Jan. 25, 2016

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