PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department Captain was arrested on July 1 for driving under the influence after crashing into a motorcyclist. The motorcyclist had to be airlifted for treatment according to PBSO.
Captain David M Smith II, who has been with the PBSO for over 25 years, was arrested for D.U.I. after blowing a .196 and a .202 in a breathalyzer test and admitting to drinking six beers and taking a Xanax pill, stated the arrest report.
An off-duty PBSO Deputy, Lorin Tembeckjian, witnessed the motorcycle go airborne after Smith’s blue Mustang ram into it from behind at a high rate of speed, read the statement given to PBSO.
Tembeckjian told PBSO that he attempted to assist the motorcyclist who was lying on the right shoulder complaining of a leg injury. That is when Tembeckjian said Smith started to speak to the injured motorcyclist. Tembeckjian told Smith to call 911 and then observed Smith to be confused, staggering, and nearly fall on his way to a curb Tembeckjian told PBSO.
According to the report, responding deputies noticed Smith’s speech was slurred, slow, and unclear. The report said Smith had an “obvious order of an unknown alcoholic beverage.”
Deputies observed Smith to be confused by questioning and had “difficulty maintaining his balance.”
According to the report, Smith said he had drank six Bud Light beers and taken Xanax in the day.
Smith agreed to take a field sobriety test, and during testing which he had “a difficult time maintaining his balance while standing,” stated the police report.
When asked to do a ‘Walk & Turn’, where one foot is placed in front of another then a subject is to turn around, Smith was observed by the deputy to sway while balancing, stop periodically to steady himself, was unable to touch heel to toe, and stepped off the line three times.
According to the report, when asked to stand on one leg, Smith put his foot down three times in 30 seconds before he gave up, stating he could not do it.
When asked to touch his nose, the report says Smith “swayed heavily” and would not return his arms to a down position when asked to interchange between left and right.
PBSO released the following statement to the media in response to comment on Captain Smith’s arrest:
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office holds its employees to the highest standards and never forgets about its duty to preserve the public’s trust. Unfortunately sometimes an employee makes a bad decision which leads to misconduct and arrest, resulting in the charges.
The Sheriff’s Office will remain vigilant to insure that our efforts are professional and meet the high standards that the public has come to expect.
According to PBSO, Smith is currently on administrative leave with pay.
Source: http://cbs12.com