SEBASTIAN — A St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputy was arrested early Sunday morning after Sebastian police say he was driving drunk and led officers on a high-speed chase.
Arthur Robert Alfaro was arrested about 12:40 a.m. Feb. 22 in the 800 block of Louisiana Avenue, the police report shows. Alfaro has since been suspended without pay following an internal investigation, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began shortly before 11 p.m. Feb. 21, when officers observed a black sedan traveling about 80 mph in a 30 mph zone on Indian River Drive. Officers tried to do a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled, the report stated.
They briefly called off the chase after the sedan went northbound on U.S. 1 and hit speeds above 100 mph, saying it had become too dangerous to pursue since traffic laws in the area have a 35 mph limit.
The vehicle was last seen reversing southbound on U.S. 1, the report said. Using patrol car footage and other resources, investigators were able to identify the vehicle’s license plate.
Then an officer saw the car turn onto County Road 512. As he followed the vehicle as it entered U.S. 1, the officer observed that its driver was having trouble staying in one lane and had reduced to well below the speed limit. The car had eventually turned onto Louisiana Avenue, where officers executed a successful traffic stop.
The driver was identified as Alfaro, who had a “moderate odor” of alcohol and bloodshot eyes., the report said. A passenger in the vehicle allegedly told officers that Alfaro had been drinking, Alfaro asserted his right to remain silent and refused to perform field sobriety tests.
After being arrested, Alfaro was taken to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. His blood-alcohol content was identified at .120 and .129, all of which are above Florida’s legal limit of .08.
Alfaro was taken to the Indian River County Jail and processed. Bond was set at $500.