Fla. Sheriff's Deputy Charged With DUI Resigns

April 11--Although the criminal case against former Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ted Cason is still being heard in court, the internal investigation has been completed.

Cason, who was charged with felony DUI after a Feb. 2 traffic crash, resigned in March, just prior to being interviewed by internal review personnel.

That effectively closed the internal investigation, which concluded that the 48-year-old career law enforcement officer had violated numerous agency policies, the most serious of which was violating the state statute by driving under the influence.

He also had several policy violations concerning a gun and brass knuckles he was carrying at the time of the crash.

Cason was the Supervisor of the Street Crimes Unit.

Sgt. DJ Folley took over that position March 26, according to Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Michele Nicholson.

Nine Sheriff's Office personnel, two emergency medical technicians and one outside witness were interviewed during the internal investigation.

According to the report, Cason told deputies a car had pulled in front of him while he was riding his motorcycle on U.S. Highway 98 in Destin.

A witness described finding him with one leg still trapped under the bike. He was bleeding from the head, had slurred speech and tried to leave, although he could hardly hold his bike up.

Deputies noted that Cason seemed confused, that his voice was "thick," and that he "smelled like a brewery," according to one law enforcement officer at the scene.

Cason seemed confused about where his gun was and was surprised when after an extensive search of the scene, a deputy found it tucked into Cason's waistband.

"Cason seemed puzzled the firearm was there and even asked if it was his gun," one deputy told the investigator.

Cason refused field sobriety tests and breathalyzer exams.

At the scene, he expressed concern that the incident might impact his job.

"Hey, don't freakin' burn me," Cason told one deputy.

She told him she had a job to do just like he did.

Cason had been employed by the Sheriff's Office since 1992. During that time, he had three previous administrative investigations, two of which resulted in disciplinary action. At least one of those involved use of alcohol while off duty, the report noted.

Copyright 2012 - Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach