http://www2.hernandotoday.com/news/h...ied-ar-386056/
David Feger explained away his perceived erratic driving by calling it an "evasive action" to get away from two women he said were tailing him.

The same women, along with a couple more people from the bar, offered him a ride home and he declined, according to public documents.

Later that morning, the off-duty sheriff's deputy reeked of alcohol and his words were slurred as he was interviewed by a fellow deputy and his sergeant.

An internal affairs investigator and the Hernando County Sheriff's Office's second-in-command said Feger demonstrated a lack of awareness and professionalism when he stood on his front porch with the sergeant in a Polo shirt and a pair of boxer-briefs.

His unbecoming conduct and dishonest testimony cost Feger his job, according to the sheriff's office. He has filed an appeal and he will argue his case before a career board next month.

An eyewitness watching from her car said Feger, 36, was visibly drunk the morning of April 24, 2011. She said he "fell on his face" after he got out of his pickup. Before he walked into his house, he turned to the same eyewitness and her friend and called them "hot chicks."

Feger denied ever talking to them even though his words could be heard on the recording of the eyewitness' 911 call.

The contents of that recording, along with witness testimony, were the critical components of Feger's criminal case last year.

Feger was acquitted of his DUI charge in October, but his employment remained up in the air. He had been on unpaid leave for nine months.

On March 8, Col. Mike Maurer settled the matter. In his termination letter, he listed Feger's series of mistakes.

Maurer stated Feger made "derogatory comments" to concerned residents and accused him of being "untruthful" and "disrespectful" to the investigating deputy and his sergeant.

In the same letter, Maurer pointed out Feger had been reprimanded five times during his 10-year career.

He received mostly written reprimands, but in March 2010, he was suspended for driving recklessly to work, according to the report.

He was disciplined in December 2008 for showing up at his job smelling of alcohol. He underwent treatment and his employment was retained, supervisors said.

Feger's latest IA report, written by Sgt. Kathleen Reid, disclosed the following:

Feger visited Bar Envy at 11060 Spring Hill Drive the night of April 23 and stayed for several hours.

He played pool with a co-worker and consumed at least four alcoholic drinks during the night.

Stacey Horvath and her friend, Renee Baldassare, walked in and the two mingled for a while with Feger. The deputy had handcuffed Horvath years earlier during a criminal investigation and the two discussed it, but Horvath said she harbored no negative feelings.

After midnight and while the two women were outside, an intoxicated Feger exited the bar and stumbled toward them.

He mocked Horvath about previously arresting her and the two women walked away and headed to a nearby coffee shop.

They saw him a short time later driving along Mariner Boulevard and Horvath, who was driving behind Feger's truck, followed him for several blocks.

He drove recklessly and struck a curb. At one point, Horvath called 911.

Both women pulled up to Feger's home and Horvath called out to him to make sure he was all right.

Feger responded by calling them "hot" and wishing them a "good (Easter) holiday."

During Feger's trial in October, his attorney got Horvath to admit on the stand she had lied when she was first interviewed by the sheriff's office. She said she didn't want them to know she had previously met Feger or had any reason to get him in trouble.

When the accompanying IA investigation was concluded, it was Feger who paid the price for lying.

Reid sustained the two allegations against Feger – conduct unbecoming and untruthfulness. In reference to the latter, Reid stated Feger lied about making contact with Horvath and Baldassare. He had told investigators no one had seen him walk into his home and he hadn't talked to anyone while he was in his front yard.

He also alleged he was swerving on the roads in an effort to get away from Horvath, whom he accused of following him home.

"The scope of the investigation is not to determine legal impairment during the course of Deputy Feger's travel from Bar Envy to his residence, but to determine whether his conduct rose to a level that violates (the agency's) code of conduct," Reid wrote.

She also determined Feger's behavior toward his colleagues during the investigation warranted disciplinary action.

Maurer said Feger offered Deputy Tyler O'Donnell, the DUI investigator, a drink while the latter questioned him at his home. Feger later said he was joking.

When O'Donnell's patrol sergeant, James Cameron IV, interviewed Feger later that same morning, Feger kept asking him, "Are we good?" He also called the women's DUI accusations "ridiculous."

O'Donnell warned Feger not to "get too comfortable" because he and Cameron were likely to return that morning with more questions. Feger ignored the warning and took off his pants in between interviews. He answered Cameron's questions on his front porch in his underwear, the sergeant said.

Two weeks prior to his trial, Feger saw O'Donnell at a gas station and apologized to him.

"(He) said he was sorry to put him and Sgt. Cameron in that position," Reid wrote.

During Feger's conversation with O'Donnell, he admitted he had consumed a lot of liquor that night, according to the report.