ORLANDO, Fla. – A Seminole County sheriff's deputy was arrested on charges of driving under the influence after, according to troopers, he was speeding and drifting into the wrong lane.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers pulled 42-year-old Robert Futch, who was off duty, over at 2 a.m. Sunday at Hames Road and Orange Blossom Trail. Local 6 is working to obtain video of the arrest.
According to an arrest report, Futch told the trooper he had a few drinks at Cowboys bar before getting into his truck.
The FHP says Futch was spotted going 60 mph in a 35 mph speed zone and drifting in and out of his lane for about a mile while a trooper followed him.
Futch was pulled over on Hames Avenue in Orlando, and the trooper said he could smell alcohol on Futch, who identified himself as a law enforcement officer.
The trooper said Futch, who refused to take a breath test, was slurring and stumbling. Futch took a field sobriety test and mentioned that his father was a trooper, the FHP said.
Once Futch was put in the back of the patrol car, he asked the trooper how many other times had the trooper arrested police officers and went on to mention that the arrest would end his career, the FHP said.
Futch, who's been with the Seminole County Sheriff's Offcie since November 2001, was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal and administrative investigations.
The Sheriff's Office said Futch's only disciplinary issue in his file is a letter of counseling for a vehicle crash in 2003.
Futch was released from jail after posting bond.