Edgewater, FL – An Edgewater police officer is now off the street after his arrest for drunk driving in Port Orange.
26-year-old Stephen Binz posted $500 bond and left Volusia County Jail just hours following his arrest around 2am Thursday (July 30th).
Edgewater Police Department Captain Joe Mahoney says his department decided to place Binz on paid leave following the incident, which is standard procedure in these kinds of cases.
“He has no prior formal discipline and has been a paid police officer since September of 2013 with Edgewater,” Mahoney added. “He is assigned to the patrol division.”
The Port Orange Police Department says a sergeant in an unmarked car stopped Binz near the intersection of Clyde Morris Boulevard and Wild Holly Drive after Binz nearly crashed into the unmarked car with a black Chevy car.
The POPD sergeant in that unmarked car claims he was was waiting out a red light in the southbound lanes of Clyde Morris at the Dunlawton Avenue intersection when Binz’s Chevy – which was heading north on Clyde Morris – drifted over and went straight at the unmarked car, stopping within a foot of hitting it head-on.
According to the police report, Binz – whose address was redacted – admitted to having around 10 alcoholic drinks before getting behind the wheel and had to be guided by the officers to the area where he performed field sobriety exercises because he had trouble keeping his balance.
The report noted that Binz failed the field sobriety exercises and that 2 separate Breathalyzer tests afterward showed his blood alcohol content at .172 and .177. That’s over double the legal limit.
Binz was cited by POPD for making an improper right hand turn and driving under the influence.
Because of his status as a law enforcement officer, Binz’s mugshot isn’t available for release to the public, per law.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.