TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Leon County Republican chair has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic crash.
Evan James Power, 37, was booked into jail Wednesday and released later that day on a $500 bond.
Power said he consumed two beers Wednesday evening before the accident on Eight Avenue near the intersection of Cherry Street, according to a probable cause affidavit.
He said he was headed to a friend's house and did not see a parked car on the side of the road and ended up striking it.
Power said he was following a friend who did not remain on the scene.
That friend was not seen by an off-duty officer who was walking his dog in the area when he witnessed the traffic crash and saw Power's car strike the legally parked car along the shoulder of the road just east of Grape Street.
The off-duty officer saw Power exit his vehicle.
During his contact with Power, the officer said, he noted signs of impairment and thus requested that an on duty patrol and a DUI officer come to the scene.
"While talking with him I noted a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath and person," the investigator wrote in the court document. "His eyes were glassy, watery and bloodshot in appearance and his speech slurred."
After being read his Miranda warnings, Power then spoke with the investigator.
Power agreed to so some field sobriety exercises. He said he would rather not do them but would if he had to.
The investigating officer explained to Power that if he refused to do the field sobriety exercises the officer would have to make an arrest decision based on the things he and the other officers observed up to that point.
The officer explained his concerns about Power's impairment such as the odor of alcohol, red eyes, slurred speech and the crash.
Power then started to do the field sobriety exercises but did not complete them.
Based on the noted signs of impairment, the court document said, Power was arrested for DUI, handcuffed, searched and secured in the patrol car for transport to the jail.
Power considered submitting to a breath test but, when he arrived at jail, decided against doing so.
Power sent the following statement to WTXL about the incident:
“I was tired and a distracted driver and made a mistake. I will be using the court system to set the record straight.”
