A Hardee County corrections officer found himself on the wrong side of the law this past weekend in Mulberry. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported that Dylan Kennedy, aged 28, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence (DUI) and DUI with property damage after crashing into a subdivision sign. According to the sheriff's office, deputies were dispatched following an automated crash alert to the entrance of the Bridgeport Lakes subdivision. Upon arrival, they found Kennedy in his vehicle, exhibiting signs of impairment.
In a statement obtained by FOX 13 News, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stated, "Dylan Kennedy was arrested for driving under the influence with a significantly high blood alcohol level. This reckless behavior is unacceptable and puts our community at risk." Kennedy had attempted to quickly explain to deputies that he had been in the subdivision for a party and had consumed five shots of alcohol. He also feared that his arrest could be likely to cost him his job at the Hardee Correctional Institution.
Kennedy underwent field sobriety tests, where he showed nearly maximum signs of impairment, and subsequent breathalyzer tests indicated blood alcohol content (BAC) levels of 0.137 and 0.139, both well above Florida's legal limit of 0.08. These details were reported by WFLA.
Judd added to his statement, "Not only did he choose to drive intoxicated, but he hit a sign, which could just as easily have been a person." The implication of this transgression struck a chord, hinting at the potential for more dire consequences had Kennedy encountered a pedestrian rather than an inanimate object. As it stands, the Florida Department of Corrections has not released a statement regarding Kennedy's employment status following the incident, as reported by Winter Haven Daily.
