FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. – A Daytona Beach police officer is facing a DUI charge after police say he crashed his pick-up in the early hours of Thanksgiving Day in Flagler Beach.
According to an arrest report, around 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 28, Flagler Beach police responded to the 2100 block of South Ocean Shore Boulevard and found a silver 2011 F-150 facing northbound on the southbound side of the road.
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Flagler Beach said all four wheels of the pick-up were damaged and evidence pointed to the vehicle jumping the median from the northside lane and crossing over into the southbound lane.
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Christopher Pearsall, 39, was the only person in the area and was seen walking around the vehicle. Pearsall had told police he had four bears two hours prior and his breath smelled of alcohol, the report states. Pearsall was also “unstable on his feet, spoke with a thick tongue, and struggled to answer simple questions.” His eyes also appeared to be bloodshot.
During questioning, Pearsall told police that his “friend” was driving the truck northbound, crashed it, and fled on foot. Despite being asked numerous times, Pearsall could not provide the friend’s name or details like what he was wearing or where they met, the report states.
A witness who reported the crash told police he had not seen anybody walking or running away from the scene.
After declining a field sobriety test, Pearsall was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. During his transport to AdventHealth where Pearsall was to be checked out before being taken to jail, police reported the alcoholic smell continued to be very strong in the back of the patrol vehicle even with the windows down. The smell was also strong in the intoxilyzer room, where Pearsall refused to provide a breath test.
Pearsall was booked into the Flagler County jail on a $1,000 bond.
According to Daytona Beach Police, Sgt. Pearsall was placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of both the criminal proceedings and the department’s internal investigation.
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