FHP arrests Orange County deputy on DUI charges

Sgt. Kevin Meyer reassigned to administrative duties pending investigation

ORLANDO, Fla. – A veteran Orange County Sheriff's Sergeant is facing charges of DUI after Florida Highway Patrol troopers say he rear-ended a vehicle Sunday night.

The crash happened about 9 p.m. on Winter Garden Vineland Road.

According to an FHP arrest report, Kevin Meyer, 50, was wearing his law enforcement uniform and driving an unmarked law enforcement pick-up truck when the crash occurred.

WKMG-TV asked the Orange County Sheriff's Office whether the deputy was on duty at the time of the crash, but a spokesman would not comment.

The sheriff's office released a statement saying Sgt. Meyer is relieved from his law enforcement duties and reassigned to administrative work pending the outcome of the Florida Highway Patrol charges, as well as the ensuing Orange County Professional Standards Investigation.

The sheriff's office also noted there were no injuries in the accident.

The victim, Victoria De Torres, told troopers she was headed south in the outbound lane of Winter Garden Vineland Road when a Dodge pick-up truck came up behind her with emergency lights activated. According to the the FHP report, De Torres tried to slow down, but couldn't pull over because of the raised cement curb.

That's when she was rear-ended by the truck. According to the report, the impact was so severe, it pushed De Torres' vehicle onto the shoulder then across a grassy median before coming to a stop in the opposite lanes.

De Torres told troopers Meyer was acting suspicious and gave witnesses permission to leave the scene, without getting their personal information.

The FHP is now asking those people to come forward so investigators can interview witnesses.

According to the FHP report, when troopers arrived, they immediately noticed Meyer was "unsteady on his feet," had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and an "odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath."

Meyer, whose been with the sheriff's office for 23 years, told troopers he was reaching for something in the glove box when he lost control.

Around 11 p.m., troopers say they began performing a field sobriety test on Sgt. Meyer, but according to the report, after a few minutes the deputy refused to continue the tests. He also refused a breath test, despite being told that would result in his driver's license being suspended for one year.

The Florida Highway Patrol plans to release dash cam video of the field sobriety test Tuesday morning.

Troopers say they also found a Powerade bottle inside the deputy's truck that contained a pink liquid that smelled like alcohol. The FHP says it will send the Powerade bottle to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further testing.