A White River Township firefighter was arrested early Sunday morning for driving with a blood alcohol content more than two times the legal limit.
Raymond Wesley Denson, 39, of Greenwood, was placed on unpaid leave, pending White River Township Safety Board review, while the legal process runs its course, said Jeremy Pell, fire chief.
“We expect the members of the (fire department) to uphold the personal and professional standards that align with the department’s mission and vision. We are disappointed that this incident does not reflect this. The safety of our community is paramount as is the mental and physical well-being of those that protect it,” Pell said in a statement.
Denson is a 17-year veteran of the department and has no disciplinary record, Pell said. Denson also does not have any previous OWI charges, and has one traffic infraction on file, according to online court records.
Denson was initially pulled over for speeding shortly before midnight Saturday when a Johnson County sheriff’s deputy clocked his speed at 61 mph in a 40 mph zone near County Line Road and Lincoln Boulevard in Greenwood, according to a report from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy made a U-turn and initiated a traffic stop at County Line Road and Stonegate Road, according to the report.
While speaking with Denson about speeding, the deputy noticed he had bloodshot eyes and could smell alcohol on his breath, the report said.
Denson admitted he had “a few beers” that night, but told the deputy he felt sober enough to drive, according to the report.
The deputy administered each of the standard OWI tests and Denson failed all of them, the report said.
Initially, Denson did not want to take a blood alcohol content test, but eventually agreed. Denson’s breath sample registered .179, which is more than twice the legal limit of .08.
Denson was booked at 12:34 a.m. Sunday on the charge of operating while intoxicated. He was held at the Johnson County jail on $1,000 bond.
