Daytona Beach police officer arrested on DUI charge

Officer Shawna Hamel placed on paid leave

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A Daytona Beach police officer was arrested on DUI charges after crashing into a drainage ditch, according to authorities.

Officer Shawna Hamel was arrested late Thursday in Daytona Beach.  She was not injured in the crash.

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According to a charging affidavit, Hamel was driving a 2013 Ford Mustang around 11 p.m. in the 300 block of Bill France Boulevard when she failed to navigate a turn, sending the car into the ditch.  The Mustang sustained damage to its left rear side.

Officers said Hamel was unsteady on her feet and had a strong odor alcohol. 

Two witnesses said he noticed the Hamel inside a nearby Sunoco and believed she was under the influence of some type of 10 substance, the charging affidavit stated.

When asked what caused her to crash, Hamel said, "I missed my exit," according to the affidavit.

Hamel said she had consumed a couple of drinks and had taken some type of drug for her shoulder, the affidavit said.

Hamel was asked to perform several field sobriety tests and struggled to complete them, the affidavit said.

She was arrested and was given a breath test, which showed she had a blood alcohol leverl of .170 and .162, more than double the state's legal limit to drive, which is 0.08, according to the affidavit.

Hamel has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal
charge and an Internal Affairs investigation.

Watch Local 6 News and stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this story.


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