A Clark County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with driving under the influence.
Steven Elliott, 44, is scheduled to appear in Clark County Municipal Court on Friday to face charges of speeding and OVI, according to court records.
Elliott was stopped on Home Road early Friday morning by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, according to a court affidavit.
A trooper reportedly clocked Elliott driving over the speed limit and upon approaching Elliott’s car for the traffic stop a “strong odor of alcohol” was noticeable, according to the trooper’s report.
Elliott also appeared to have red, glassy eyes and slurred speech, according to the arrest affidavit.
The driver failed two field sobriety tests, court records indicate, and Elliott allegedly refused to submit to a chemical test after he was arrested for OVI.
The sheriff’s office is aware of the arrest, said Ben Hunt, human relations manager with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Elliott has been transferred to the Jail Division, where he won’t be permitted to drive as part of his duties, Hunt said. His county cruiser was repossessed and reissued to the person who is taking his place in the Uniform Patrol Division.
The alleged OVI didn’t occur in the county cruiser, on county time or on county property, Hunt said.
“Obviously, this is a matter that we take very seriously … There will be a thorough internal investigation once the criminal case has concluded,” he said.
Once Elliott’s case is determined in court, Hunt said the sheriff’s office will do an internal investigation into the matter.
That investigation could result in internal discipline, he said, which could include loss of pay.
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