A longtime law enforcement officer from Palm Beach County was taken into custody in north Florida after an incident involving driving under the influence, specifically while behind the wheel of a sheriff's office vehicle. Major Sean Murray, who has nearly three decades of experience with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO), faced arrest Tuesday night following a traffic stop conducted by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJCSO), according to CBS12 News.
The arrest came about just before midnight, when a deputy spotted Murray's cruiser swerving and speeding on a local road. The SJCSO reported the PBSO SUV was "drifting within the lane, crossing the lane divider multiple times, and traveling in the middle of the roadway" and noted the vehicle sped up, reaching 71 mph in a 55-mph zone, according to CBS12 News. A subsequent check revealed the car's plates were not on file in law enforcement databases, an anomaly for a police vehicle though, the SUV was confirmed as belonging to PBSO.
Upon stopping Murray, the St. Johns County deputy said he detected an "overwhelming odor of alcoholic beverages emitting from within the vehicle" and described Murray's demeanor as having "bloodshot and watery" eyes, as well as exhibiting slow, hesitant movements. In a statement provided by WPBF, Murray admitted to having consumed alcohol at dinner earlier that evening but declined to participate in any further roadside sobriety tests, with the exception of the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus exercise, which he failed.
As a result of these observations, Murray was taken into custody and charged with DUI by the SJCSO deputy. He was subsequently booked into the St. Johns County Jail. In the wake of this event, the major has been placed on administrative leave with pay from the PBSO during the ongoing investigation, officials confirmed. Murray's role at PBSO, prior to the incident, involved him serving as both a member of the executive staff and the commanding officer for the Emergency Operations Bureau as well as the law enforcement chairman for the Regional Domestic Security Task Force.
