Sheriff’s Office detention deputy fired following DUI arrest in Clearwater

A detention deputy was fired Sunday after she was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Brittany O’Leary, 24, drove her 2019 Jeep Wrangler off the road and into a retention pond at 26200 U.S. 19 North around 7:24 p.m. Sunday. Witnesses had to help her from the Jeep, which was almost completely submerged, officers said.

O’Leary had bloodshot and watery eyes, an unsteady balance, slurred speech and a distinct odor of alcohol, according to officers. She agreed to field sobriety tests but performed poorly on them, officers said.

A breath test revealed O’Leary’s blood-alcohol level was .153 and .158. Florida law presumes a driver is impaired with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or greater.

O’Leary was taken to the Pinellas County Jail and faces charges of driving under the influence. She also was cited for careless driving.

During the investigation, officers learned that she had worked as a detention deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office since October 2017.

Her employment was terminated immediately following the arrest, according to Sheriff’s Office policy.