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Royal Palm Beach, FL - A Coconut Creek police officer is facing a DUI charge after being found asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle on Friday.
According to police, Palm Beach County deputies responded to a witness report of a man, identified as 58-year-old Laurence Anthony Christopher, asleep behind the wheel of a gray Ford F-350 truck at a traffic light near the intersection of U.S. 441 and Southern Boulevard.
The witness stated that upon waking Christopher, he began driving erratically northbound on U.S. 441.
The arrest report describes Christopher as disoriented, leading the witness to suspect intoxication.
The situation escalated when the witness's passenger contacted police, prompting Christopher to flee the scene.
The witness managed to record Christopher's erratic driving and provided real-time location updates to Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office dispatchers, allowing deputies to intercept Christopher.
According to his arrest report, Christopher initially denied any impairment when questioned by officers.
However, deputies noted his bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, and erratic driving behavior.
They also detected alcohol on his breath.
Christopher was taken into custody after refusing to participate in a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer examination.
Coconut Creek Police Department officials confirmed they’re aware of Christopher's arrest and are currently investigating.