Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested, Suspended After Second DUI.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

An off-duty Volusia sheriff’s deputy has been arrested for a second time on charges of driving under the influence in the past year.

According to a release put out by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Aaron Chavez, 34, was pulled over by a DeLand police officer just before 2 a.m. Friday, after the officer witnessed Chavez’s truck traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of International Speedway Boulevard.

The officer followed as Chavez’s truck proceeded through a red light, made a left turn onto Woodland Boulevard, swerved, and pulled over for the traffic stop.

When the officer approached the truck, he noticed a smell of alcohol and noted that Chavez’s eyes were glassy, and his speech slurred.

Based on reports, Chavez was taken into custody without incident on charges of DUI and refusal to submit to DUI testing. He was cited for traveling on the wrong side of the road, failure to stop at a red light, and was found in violation of driver’s license restrictions (allowing driving for business purposes only).

Chavez was previously arrested for DUI, back on March 21, 2020, when a Volusia Sheriff’s Sergeant responding to complaints reporting a driver failing to maintain a lane on Spring Garden Avenue near Mercers Fernery Road.

Chavez was off-duty in that incident as well.

As a result of the prior March 2020 arrest, Chavez was suspended for 24 hours and reassigned to a non-law-enforcement position while his case was pending. Chavez pleaded no contest to an amended charge of reckless driving and was sentenced to probation, which he completed.

After resolution of his case, Chavez was reassigned to courthouse duties, and later to a patrol assignment.

Chavez is currently suspended, pending the results of an Internal Affairs investigation.