A high-ranking corrections officer has found himself on the wrong side of the law after allegedly driving under the influence when he caused a crash and was discovered sleeping inside his county-issued car.
According to FHP officers, 50-year-old Miami-Dade Corrections chief Omar Fernandez was “slurred, mumbled, and incoherent” when found after the Sunday night crash at Southwest 88th Street and Mills Drive in Kendall.
The crash involved an SUV carrying a woman and her teen child.
According to the arrest report, troopers found Fernandez fast asleep in the passenger seat of his county-owned car. He awoke with an “obvious odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his mouth as he spoke, and his eyes were bloodshot.”
Witnesses identified Fernandez as the driver.
Fernandez failed every element of the field sobriety test, according to the report, but agreed to a breath test anyhow. However, before blowing into the test, he told officers, “You know, I’m going to be under the influence; I had a couple of drinks.”
According to police, his blood alcohol test results were “.236 and .231,” which is nearly three times the legal limit.
Fernandez bailed out of jail as of Tuesday afternoon, but he is still facing multiple accusations, including DUI and property damage.
The Miami-Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation Department issued the following statement:
“On July 6th, the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department was notified of the arrest of civilian Division Chief Omar Fernandez on suspicion of DUI charges. In accordance with department protocol, the employee was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. “
The police report did not mention any injuries, but Fernandez was transported to a local hospital to be checked out before being booked into the Miami-Dade County jail.
