Brevard County sheriff suspends 3 corrections deputies on suspicion of DUI

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Three corrections deputies with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office have been suspended without pay, Sheriff Wayne Ivey announced Tuesday.

The three deputies were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, causing damage within the past three days.

"It's absolutely not only frustrating, it's infuriating," Ivey said. "These are people who know better. They see each and every day people's lives being destroyed by alcohol and substance abuse and DUI in their capacity at the jail, and here they are doing the same thing."

The first incident happened at 4:02 a.m. April 29, when Brittany Rowland was arrested by Titusville police after officers said she was under the influence and crashed into a concrete barrier at the intersection of South Washington Avenue and Cheney Highway.

The second incident involved Corporal William Dampman who was arrested by FHP on suspicion of DUI following a field sobriety test at State Road 5 and Montgomery Road in Mims. Dampman refused a breath sample, investigators said.

The sheriff said Dampman and Roland were drinking together earlier in the night before the crashes occurred.

The third incident happened Monday night when Cocoa police arrested Officer Ronald Collins on suspicion of driving under the influence at A1A and 1st Street in Cocoa Beach. Investigators said he hit a vacant Bank of America building and refused a breath sample.

Collins was hospitalized with minor injuries following the crash, investigators said.

"I'm extremely angered by this. You have so many hard people working to protect our citizens and you have these three knuckleheads that decide to put others at risk," Ivey said. "These are people that know better."

All three deputies were off duty at the time of the incidents.

There are 1,500 members within the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, Ivey said.

Rowland has been with the Sheriff's Office since Sept. 2014.

Dampman has been with the Sheriff's Office since Aug. 2014 and Collins joined in July 2006.

The is a developing story. Follow Channel 9's Melonie Holt on Twitter and watch Eyewitness News for updates.

Cox Media Group