ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy was recently arrested on a driving under the influence charge in north Florida, officials told Local 10 News.
Deputy Melissa Barlett Moon, who has served with the agency for more than 20 years, was taken into custody by the Florida Highway Patrol on Nov. 27 in St. Johns County, just north of St. Augustine.
According to an FHP incident report, Moon, 52, of Homestead, was “weaving” on U.S. 1 and “crossing lane markers” in a Lincoln SUV for nearly a mile and a half before a trooper stopped her shortly before 10:45 p.m.
FHP Trooper Kenneth Montgomery wrote that when he asked Moon if she was “OK,” she replied, “I’m good,” but he “immediately detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her, and the odor got stronger as she spoke.”
He added, “Moon’s eyes were watery and bloodshot. Moon’s face was flushed. Moon’s speech was mumbled at times. I asked Moon how much she had to drink, and she told me she had one drink.”
The report says Moon “displayed signs of impairment” during a field sobriety test and rated herself as a “3” on a drunkenness scale of one to 10. Troopers said she refused to take a breath test.
MDSO officials said she has since been relieved of duty with pay. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office did not release her booking photo.
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