Ocala police officers arrestd on DUI charge

OCALA, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - An Ocala police officer is accused of drinking and driving. Detective Daniel Clark is suspended after he was arrested Saturday on a DUI charge.   Ocala Police said Clark was off-duty when he taken into custody.  According to the affidavit, a patrol vehicle noticed Clark in a driveway with a tire issue, and pulled over to help.

The affidavit said Clark  walked up to the patrol vehicle and said, "I am drunk." "I need help," and  "I need to be arrested."   Deputies said they could smell what appeared to be alcohol on his breath.  In the report, a deputy saw two empty beer cans in the passenger seat, a deployed airbag and damage to the SUV. The report said Clark refused to take a sobriety test or a breathalyzer test.

Clark has been with the Ocala Police Department for about 15 years.  "This is not a pleasant thing. It's sad," said Cynthia Barnes, spokesperson for the department.  "Basically, we all are human, we make mistakes, but at the end of the day, we need to try to make the best choices that we can in life."

Detective Clark is on unpaid suspension pending the outcome of the criminal and internal investigations. The Sheriff's Office said Clark has bonded out of jail.