Action News 5 - Memphis, TennesseeShelby County deputy arrested for DUI

Shelby County deputy arrested for DUI

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By Jason Miles - bio | email
William Speight, photo courtesy Shelby County Sheriff's Office. William Speight, photo courtesy Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
MEMPHIS, TN -

(WMC-TV) - A Shelby County Sheriff deputy was arrested for drunk driving, but it's not the first time he's been in trouble.

The deputy was suspended with pay for a DUI and public intoxication. Investigators say he was in a county vehicle, but was off duty.

According to the hand-written affidavit, 42-year-old William Speight was behind the steering wheel with alcohol on his person.

Also, it stated he had a couple of beers earlier in the day and was armed with his service weapon.

He was arrested just before four o'clock after dispatchers received a call about a reckless driver near Chimney Rock and Berryhill.

Rayford's All-In-One Hot Wings is at that intersection and owner Latrice Rayford said law enforcement officers should know better than to drive drunk.

"My sister's a police officer and she's been on the force about 15 years and she don't play with that," said Rayford.

The deputy's house is within a mile of this sheriff's office substation in Arlington.

"I always felt a little safer that he was around, but now with these new allegations - I'm a bit surprised about the DUI," said neighbor Nishanth Sukasi.

Sheriff's office spokesman Chip Washington said Speight was suspended for ten days in 2008 for failing a random drug test, the only infraction in his 20 year career.

Speight is out of jail on bond after spending the night behind bars.

Copyright 2012 WMC-TV. All rights reserved.

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