After causing a rear-end crash on Interstate 4, intoxicated off-duty Deputy Paul Reiss made a last-ditch attempt to get out of trouble on New Year's Eve, his arrest report said.
Reiss tried to switch seats with his girlfriend to make it look like she was driving the Hyundai Genesis he just crashed into the back of a Nissan Maxima on eastbound I-4 at Lee Road, an arrest report released Thursday said.
But it was too late for the 33-year-old Seminole County Sheriff's Office deputy.
Reiss reeked of alcohol, swayed as he stood and had bloodshot eyes, officials wrote in his report.
He was charged with one count of driving under the influence while causing property damage.
No injuries were reported, FHP said.
He was released from the Orange County Jail on New Year's Day after posting a $1,000 bond.
A DUI charge in Florida normally results in at least a 180-day driver-license suspension.
His was suspended for a year because he refused to take a breath test.
As a deputy, Reiss was suspended with pay until the investigation in the matter is over, said Kim Cannaday, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office.
Witnesses told the FHP that Reiss was weaving in and out of his lane before the crash, which happened at 6 p.m.
After Hyundai Genesis crashed into the Nissan Maxima, the Nissan crashed into a trailer attached to a semi-truck.
His car and a Nissan Maxima were heavily damaged. The trailer sustained minor damage.
Hours before the crash, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office advised residents on several social-media posts to drink responsibly while celebrating the new year.
"There's no excuse for driving under the influence," they wrote in a Facebook post.
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