New Port Richey officer charged with DUI

NEW PORT RICHEY — Police Officer Christopher Sutherlin worked crowd control Monday night at a political rally for Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden in Sims Park. He went off duty about 9 p.m.

Hours later, authorities say, the 30-year-old officer rear-ended a pickup on U.S. 19 and sped away. The pickup's driver followed and caught up to him. And when the Florida Highway Patrol investigated, it determined the officer was driving drunk.

Sutherlin, who lives in Dade City, was charged with DUI, two counts of DUI with personal injury, DUI with property damage and leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries.

He has been placed on paid administrative leave while an internal investigation is conducted, Lt. Scott Baker said. Sutherlin has been with New Port Richey about 10 months and is under the department's one-year probation.

The crash occurred on U.S. 19 north of Beau Lane, about a half-mile north of Main Street, just after 3 a.m. Tuesday, FHP said.

Sutherlin was driving a 2006 Nissan pickup when he struck a 2005 Ford pickup, according to the report. Sutherlin was speeding 20 miles over the posted limit, FHP said.

He took off, the report said, and the driver of the second pickup, 26-year-old Joshua Vitori of New Port Richey, followed until Sutherlin was forced to pull over because of front-end damage to his pickup.

Baker said the troopers who arrived first knew Sutherlin from working in the same area. He said FHP sent a trooper from Hernando County who didn't know the officer.

"We just felt it was better that there wasn't any kind of friendship or relationship," Baker said.

Sutherlin told the trooper he couldn't perform field sobriety exercises because of a previous back injury. At the Hernando County jail he took a Breathalyzer test, which registered blood-alcohol levels of 0.148 and 0.151, the report says. Florida law presumes a driver impaired at 0.08.

He was jailed in Land O'Lakes until Tuesday afternoon, when he posted $6,000 bail.

Vitori suffered minor injuries from the crash, FHP said. Sutherlin had two passengers with him. One of them, 24-year-old Joseph Pascalli of New Port Richey, also was treated for minor injuries.

Pascalli is a traffic officer with New Port Richey. Baker said he will also be subject to an internal investigation.

"The fact that he's a police officer, he should probably have known better than to get into a vehicle if he knew a person was intoxicated," Baker said. "So that's something we want to look into."

Comments on this article

by Sam	Nov 2, 2008 3:12 PM
My daughter is an officer in Stuart Fl. Grandson Hampshire Il. They have made mistakes but that BIG. Please this man is human, he just make a very bad mistake. I don't know him but I know in my heart he needs another chance . BUT only (1) one more.

by xyz	Oct 31, 2008 6:19 PM
Todays Headline October 31, 2008: Theft of $300 during ambulance ride leads to paramedic's arrest. Yeah Mr. Vitori was some victim, what a joke! The real victims here are the residents of NPR & Pasco, oh and the guy this dirtbag stole the $300 from.

by Carol	Oct 31, 2008 6:10 PM
Touche' Richard. I know both of these officers as well and agree completely...

by Allen	Oct 30, 2008 8:59 PM
These guys may be great guys, but they took an oath when they took their jobs, and are held to a higher standard, its part of the job! Too bad, you guys should have thought of the ramifications before you CHOOSE to drink and drive.

by EyeSpy	Oct 30, 2008 7:32 PM
Pasco news story: intoxicated deputy involved in accident with firefighter out on bond for grand theft. Just a guess - nothing good going on at 3 am for either one of them.

by Richard	Oct 30, 2008 3:49 PM
I know both of these officers. They have always conducted themselves professionally and have served the community well. It appears there is a problem and they need help. Don't take away their means of income. Get them counceling and help them.

by Carol	Oct 30, 2008 3:36 PM
maybe everyone should look more into not just the facts of the case, but the people behind it before passing judgement. Just because you take an oath to become a police officer, does not mean you are no longer human.

by Carol	Oct 30, 2008 3:36 PM
Nobody has mentioned the countless number of drug dealers, gang members, burglars, voilent criminals he has arrested to try to make our streets safer for us. I know this officer and know he is a great person, just made a very bad decision.

by Carol	Oct 30, 2008 3:32 PM
NO. But lose his job? The one thing that supports his family as well? No. Put him on desk duty and give him councelling. He has an great employment record and IS a great cop. Does anyone mention degenarates that he has gotten off the streets of NPR..

by Carol	Oct 30, 2008 3:32 PM
So many here condemn him for what has happened. Was it wrong? Yes. However, any other job that you have, councelling would be offered and alternative options considered.Do I believe that he should be on the road on patrol until trust regained? cont..

by JENN	Oct 30, 2008 3:05 PM
THESE 2 GUYS ARE GREAT GUYS I KNOW THEM BOTH PERSONALLY,YES THEY DID SCREW UP BUT EVERYONE DOES, GIVE THEM A BREAK BELIEVE OR NOT THEY ARE BEING PUNISHED JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER HUMAN. KEEP YOUR HEADS UP GUYS...

by mike	Oct 30, 2008 2:07 PM
tom:youre right and wrong.Although White may not be responsible, PEOPLE DONT CARE.We are so tired of Whites lies.150% more chance to clear cases.We want action not like letting a criminal work or be paid while under investigation. White must go.

by Joey	Oct 29, 2008 10:23 PM
He can't do a field sobriety test due to previous back injury, but he can work as a cop? Glad to see FHP brought in another Officer that did not know him to conduct investigation.

by tom	Oct 29, 2008 10:23 PM
What the hell are these idiots blaming Sheriff White in these blogs, This guy is a Police Officer with the city of New Port Richey, not the Sheriff's Office pay attention and read the article, You can't fix stupid

by tom	Oct 29, 2008 10:23 PM
What the hell are these idiots blaming Sheriff White in these blogs, This guy is a Police Officer with the city of New Port Richey, not the Sheriff's Office pay attention and read the article, You can't fix stupid

by tom	Oct 29, 2008 10:23 PM
What the hell are these idiots blaming Sheriff White in these blogs, This guy is a Police Officer with the city of New Port Richey, not the Sheriff's Office pay attention and read the article, You can't fix stupid

by Derrick	Oct 29, 2008 10:23 PM
"Concerned" is a complete idiot did he not read this story. Hey fool they are City of New Port Richey Police Officers not Pasco Sheriff's Deputies go yell at Chief Rickus not Bob White. This county is filled with some real fools "Concerned" is stupid

by Nancy	Oct 29, 2008 10:12 PM
Just wanted to make sure everyone is aware that J. Pacelli is a member of the DUI enforcement team. Strange, isn't it?

by Jen	Oct 29, 2008 10:12 PM
For all of you losers who have nothing better to do then read the news and comment back and forth about this..GET A LIFE! You mean to tell me none of you have ever had a drink and drove! Please. Ofc Sutherlin is a fine police officer made a mistake!!

by Top Secret	Oct 29, 2008 10:09 PM
FIRE BOB WHITE! PAYING THIS JERK AFTER TAKING A BREATHALYZER? WITH MY TAX DOLLARS? I'M MAD AS...

by john	Oct 29, 2008 10:07 PM
lets talk about the cops who save peoples lives, oh yea thats no fun lets just slam the cops who are human and make mistakes too. if they badge me they go home. its the way it is you dont like it, tough, go to the acadamy or can you handle it.

by KAREN	Oct 29, 2008 10:01 PM
HAPPEN TO KNOW THE GUY. YEAH HE MESSED UP BUT HES HUMAN. HE HAD SOME PERSONAL ISSUES.THINGS HAPPEN. COPS EVERYWHERE MAKE MISTAKES NOT JUST NPR OR BOB WHITES CREW. GET A LIFE.

by don	Oct 29, 2008 10:00 PM
I wonder if Josh Vitori would have chased them if he knew they were drunk and probably had guns?

by mike	Oct 29, 2008 10:00 PM
Hope Mr. Vitori at least gets his damages and ER bill taken care of without a legal battle.

by mike	Oct 29, 2008 10:00 PM
Hope Mr. Vitori at least gets his damages and ER bill taken care of without a legal battle.

by Pat	Oct 29, 2008 9:59 PM
DUI Enforcement Officers Currently Assigned: Officer C. Denton Officer J. Pascalli "The purpose of the grant is to reduce Driving Under the Influence (DUI) crashes in the City of New Port Richey through enforcement." Job well done Joe.

by dave	Oct 29, 2008 9:59 PM
Kira, Vitori was the victim who was hit by the cops

by Christina	Oct 29, 2008 9:59 PM
You do have to sit in the drunk tank for eight hours. That's Florida Statute. Something needs to be done about this SPECIAL TREATMENT!

by NICOLE	Oct 29, 2008 9:57 PM
YOU PEOPLE ARE AMAZING ON THESE COMMENTS LIKE YOU NEVER DID SOMETHING THAT YOU REGRET. GET A LIFE MISTAKES HAPPEN COP OR NO COP THEY ARE PAYING THE CONSEQUENCES NOW JUST LIKE ANY OTHER HUMAN. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT THE ONE DRIVING WHY BLAME HIM.

by NPR79	Oct 29, 2008 9:54 PM
Nancy again don't talk s*** unless you know the whole story. Pascalli is a nice young man from New York. He doesn't know alot of people here. Sutherlin took him under his wing. I would point the finger to the one thats saposed to be older and wiser.

by Concerned	Oct 29, 2008 9:54 PM
I SAY FIRE BOB WHITE FOR HIS LACK OF DISIPLINE OR CAPABILITY TO RUN THIS DEPARTMENT EFFECTIVELY! THESE IDIOTS ARE BEING PAID WITH MY TAX DOLLARS! BOB WAKE UP OR GET OUT OF PASCO PLEASE WE DONT NEED SCUM LIKE THAT. ANY REGULAR CITIZEN WOULD PAY DEARLY

by NPR79	Oct 29, 2008 9:54 PM
Fact1: He was not gonna drive to Dade City. Infact his wife and him are recently seperated, his excuse for the drinking. He got a place in NPR, but his official place, where his wife lives, is still in Dade City.

by dont re elect Mr White	Oct 29, 2008 9:54 PM
If Bob White doesn't fire them I say dont re-elect him! I wont just for putting them on paid leave! They should have been fired immediately! The breathalyzer should of been the ONLY investigation required! This is the good old boy network in Pasco!

by NPR79	Oct 29, 2008 9:53 PM
I Am not defending what Sutherlin did, by all means, alot of his closest friends and relitives were on him about his drinking. TRUST ME I KNOW!!! BUT You People Shouldn't say anything when you don't know the facts!!!

by Bill	Oct 29, 2008 9:52 PM
Any good lawyer will get the DUI to go away. Leaving the scene wasn't smart, but they contacted him AFTER the accident at his home. DUI won't hold up in court cause he wasn't behind the wheel at the time he was contacted.