An off-duty Columbia County Sheriff's Office deputy is facing a DUI charge after troopers say he crashed his personal vehicle in Orange County earlier this month, then was later arrested on a warrant back home.
Deputy Michael Rooney was taken into custody in Columbia County on July 24 after the Florida Highway Patrol obtained a warrant tied to the single-vehicle crash, according to the sheriff's office. Rooney has been placed on leave without pay while the agency conducts an internal investigation. Officials say everyone involved in the wreck is physically okay, which is about the only piece of good news in the case so far.
Official post and trooper probe
In a statement on Facebook, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office said the Florida Highway Patrol investigated the Orange County crash and later obtained a warrant for driving under the influence. The agency confirmed Rooney was off duty and driving his own vehicle when the crash happened.
The post added that the sheriff's office would release more information as appropriate and urged anyone with questions about the collision to contact FHP, which is handling the traffic crash investigation.
Local reporting and agency comment
According to WJXT News4JAX, Rooney was arrested in Columbia County on July 24 in connection with the warrant stemming from the crash earlier this month. WJXT reports he has been placed on leave without pay while the Columbia County Sheriff's Office carries out its internal review.
WJXT quoted the agency as saying, “This agency takes this situation seriously” and noting that it is “thankful that everyone involved is physically okay,” a careful mix of accountability language and relief that the incident did not end in serious injuries.
Local outlet WCJB also reported on Rooney's arrest and suspension.
Legal context
Driving under the influence is a criminal offense in Florida under Section 316.193, with penalties that can include fines, license suspension and possible jail time, depending on factors such as prior convictions, blood alcohol level or whether anyone was seriously hurt. The statute also spells out testing rules, license consequences and enhanced penalties for certain circumstances. Prosecutors will decide what specific charges to file based on the Florida Highway Patrol investigation and the evidence in the case. See Florida Statutes, section 316.193.
What happens next
The criminal case will move forward in the county where the charges are filed, while the Columbia County Sheriff's Office continues its internal investigation into Rooney's conduct. For now, the agency is publicly pointing questions about the crash itself to the Florida Highway Patrol as troopers finish their probe, according to WJXT News4JAX.
