An off-duty Miami-Dade police officer was found shirtless and passed out in his running police cruiser Tuesday night, according to an arrest affidavit.
An officer on patrol said he spotted a marked police vehicle stopped in the left turn lane on Southwest 137th Avenue at 131st Street and pulled over to investigate.
Read: Arrest Affidavit
Read: Villa's Employee Profile
The affidavit said the officer found Fernando Villa, a Miami-Dade police officer, wearing shorts and no shirt, passed out with his head thrown back in the cruiser, which was in drive.
The officer said he put the vehicle in park, turned it off and tried unsuccessfully to wake Villa. Paramedics arrived and were able to rouse him.
According to the affidavit, the officer noticed a "strong odor of alcohol on the officer’s breath" and that he had "glassy eyes."
The officer was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence, according to the affidavit.
Miami-Dade Police Department Director James K. Loftus released a statement Friday saying an Internal Affairs investigation has been launched into the matter. Villa has been relieved of duty pending the results, he said.
"A second Internal Affairs investigation has also been initiated pertaining to the violation of an order directing the transportation and booking of Villa into the Dade County Jail," Loftus' statement said. "On rare occasions, an officer will choose to stray from his/her ethical standards and commitment to protect and serve the public. It’s disappointing and embarrassing when that occurs. This goes against the very grain of what we stand for and enforce, and it clearly demonstrates that no one is immune from apprehension for driving under the influence of alcohol. After attending the recent MADD Candlelight Vigil, and seeing the victims of drunk driving struggle to restore their lives, I am more committed than ever to our Department’s efforts to reduce drunk driving."
↧
