DUI Crashes into Deputy's Car While Deputy Investigating DUI

[NewsHound]

CLEARWATER -- A Pinellas Sheriff's Office deputy was sitting in his unmarked patrol car, investigating a DUI case, when he saw a Ford Escort headed right for him early this morning.

When he realized the car wasn't going to swerve out of the way, he bailed. It turns out, the driver had a 12-pack of beer in the car, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. A breathalyzer test showed his blood contained twice the level of alcohol at which a driver is presumed impaired, authorities said.

Neither the deputy, Sgt. Michael Peasley II, nor the suspect, 21-year-old James Michael Ferguson, of 2736 Northridge Drive East in Clearwater, was seriously injured. Ferguson was arrested on DUI charges, booked and released from the Pinellas County Jail.

The crash happened about 1 a.m. in the 2300 block of Gulf To Bay Boulevard in Clearwater.

Source

Here's the full press release....note the last sentence....

Patrol Car Hit By Impaired Driver As Deputies Investigate Two Other DUI Cases In Clearwater

Release Number: 08-179

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
Crime Scene Investigation Unit

James Michael Ferguson (Arrested)
DOB: 12/05/1986
Address: 2736 Northridge Drive East, Clearwater

What: A Clearwater man was arrested for driving under the influence after he crashed his car into an unmarked patrol car assigned to the Sheriff’s Office DUI Enforcement Unit Sergeant. At the time of the crash the sergeant was supervising deputies who were conducting two unrelated DUI investigations.

Where: The crash occurred in the 2300 block of Gulf To Bay Boulevard in Clearwater and the suspect was arrested at the scene.

When: The crash occurred just before 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

How/Why:
A Clearwater man has been arrested for driving under the influence after he crashed his car into an unmarked patrol car assigned to the Sheriff’s Office DUI Enforcement Unit Sergeant. The crash occurred just before 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2008 in the 2300 block of Gulf to Bay Boulevard in Clearwater. At the time of the crash the sergeant was supervising deputies who were conducting two unrelated DUI investigations.



According to deputies the suspect, 21-year-old James Michael Ferguson, struck the rear of an unmarked Dodge Intrepid patrol car as he drove a 1993 Ford Escort east bound in the inside lane at an estimated 40 mph. Deputies say there were no other cars in the east bound lanes at the time of the crash and that the patrol car had all of its emergency lights activated. Sergeant Michael Peasley II had been seated in the car that was struck and ran from the vehicle just prior to impact after realizing that the suspect was making no effort to avoid a collision.



No injuries were reported, however both vehicles sustained heavy damage as a result of the crash. During the investigation deputies discovered a 12-pack of beer inside the suspect’s car. The suspect was arrested on one count each of driving under the influence, driving under the influence involving property damage, and improper use of a dealer tag. The suspect submitted to a breath test that was administered at the Pinellas County Jail at which time his breath alcohol level was determined to be more than twice the legal limit of .08 g/ml.



Ironically, this event occurred during a time when the Sheriff will be forced to eliminate the DUI Enforcement Unit due to imposed budget cuts.

Cars can be replaced,,people can't. Glad you're ok Mike!

DITTO!! GLAD YOU ARE OK SERGEANT PEASLEY, DID YOU GET TO GO HOME AND CHANGE YOUR BOXERS?????

[Schiebei56]

Oh my god! That’s a big news. I remember one incident when my aunt was caught driving after having a couple of drinks. She thought breathalyzer would not catch it because she didn’t drink much that night but still had to find a good DUI lawyer to get out of trouble.

[Unregistered]

DITTO!! GLAD YOU ARE OK SERGEANT PEASLEY, DID YOU GET TO GO HOME AND CHANGE YOUR BOXERS?????

Boxer underwear, like cars, can be easily replaced!