JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As revelers marked Cinco de Mayo with drinks and parties, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office stepped up patrols that Tuesday night, looking for impaired drivers.
Traffic anchor Sophia Vitello joined the JSO DUI Enforcement Team for a ride-along with Officer Ernesto Valerio, a 22-year veteran who said he has made about 1,400 DUI arrests.
During the shift, Officer Valerio stopped a driver for speeding — clocked at 93 mph near Beach Boulevard — and pointed out other risky behavior on the roads, including drivers failing to move over for a traffic stop. He also cited a commercial driver, noting CDL holders face stricter consequences for violations.
Later, the team responded to a crash in which Officer Valerio said a vehicle struck a guardrail, hit another car and ended up pinned against the barrier. He said multiple open containers were found, including what appeared to be a large, opened bottle of vodka.
Officers arrested the driver at the scene. Video from the ride-along showed officers struggling with the suspect before placing the person in a patrol vehicle.
“We have the suspect under arrest for DUI, DUI property damage twice,” Officer Valerio said as they headed to the Duval County jail. Cameras were not allowed inside the booking area.
Officer Valerio said impaired driving is more common than many people realize, estimating the average person drives impaired 80 times a year.