Deputy Faces DUI Charge, Property Damage Charge: Sheriff

POLK COUNTY, FL — A single—vehicle crash in Auburndale caused a deputy accused of drinking and driving to lose his job at the Polk County Sheriff's Office, a news release said.

Twenty-six-year old Josiah Perry, who had been employed with the sheriff's office since 2019, crashed his silver 2017 Ford Explorer Saturday night around 8:15 on K-Ville Avenue near Pinter Road in the K-Ville area, detectives said. His SUV flipped after it drove off the road.

Perry told deputies that someone else had been driving, but then later he confessed he had been the driver, according to investigators.

“Perry has lost my trust and faith, as well as that of the community," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "He can no longer serve as a law enforcement officer as a result of his conduct and untruthfulness.”

The arrest affidavit said the responding deputy noticed that Perry’s eyes appeared bloodshot and watery, and that Perry admitted that he had recently consumed a glass of vodka and cranberry juice.

Perry faces charges of driving under the influence (DUI), and DUI with property damage. He provided two breath samples of 0.128g/210L and 0.129g/210L (breath alcohol content). The legal threshold is 0.08g/210L in Florida.

He resigned from PCSO after his arrest. Authorities said he also did not experience any injuries from the crash.