JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is opening an internal investigation into an officer, after he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence early Tuesday morning, according to Sheriff T.K. Waters.
During a news conference Tuesday, Waters announced the arrest and suspension of Officer Justin Marino, who has been with the Sheriff's Office for four years.
At midnight Tuesday, officers were dispatched to Marino's girlfriend's residence. She notified officers that she was involved in an argument with Marino while they were both intoxicated, and Marino left her residence in his patrol vehicle, Waters said.
She said Marino should not have been driving due to his level of intoxication.
Officers located Marino, minutes later, pulling into a Wawa parking lot on 7790 Gate Parkway.
Marino then parked the vehicle and walked into the gas station. Officers said it appeared Marino "avoided to make contact" with them, according to an arrest report.
Officers waited outside the business until Marino came back outside. Officers then approached him and asked if he got into an argument with his girlfriend, the report said. Marino confirmed he was involved in an argument with his girlfriend.
As Marino was speaking with officers, they noticed clear signs of intoxication, including bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and alcohol on his breath, Waters said.
Marino refused all field sobriety exercises and was then arrested on charges of DUI.
Waters said although Marino was driving his patrol vehicle at the time of his arrest, he was not on duty.
"He should not have been in his police car, as a matter of fact, he should not have been in a car at all," said Waters.
Marino's arrest marks the fifth arrest of a JSO employee in 2023. He started at JSO on June 10, 2019.
"No one is above the law, and if one of our employees violates a criminal statute, this agency will fully investigate that allegation," Waters said. "If investigators find that there is probable cause to support that arrest, or that allegation, this agency will hold that employee accountable."