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Cocoa police officer on administrative duty after DUI stop

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Cocoa police officer is on desk duty after an alleged DUI traffic stop in Rockledge.

According to Rockledge police, Benjamin Erskine was speeding more than 25 miles over the limit down U.S. 1, and was stopped just south of Gus Hip Boulevard in February.

The case was forwarded to the State Attorney's Office, which has decided to file charges.

Police said Erskine’s SUV was going about 70 mph when he first caught their attention.

But when they attempted to pull him over, they said the Cocoa officer sped off.

“They clocked the individual at 85 mph,” Detective Bob Weigal with the Rockledge Police Department said.

He said when he was eventually pulled over, dashcam video showed Erskine slowly leaving his vehicle, and they said he smelled of alcohol.

“He did submit to several field sobriety exercises, which he was not able to complete in a satisfactory manner,” Weigal said.

At one point in the video, police said Erskine asked to speak with a supervisor from his own department and he did not submit to a field sobriety test.

He now has a hardship license to be used for business proposes only, and he’s on administrative duty.

In addition to his pending legal case, Cocoa police will conduct an internal investigation to determine what, if any, disciplinary action will be taken.

WFTV learned the internal investigation won’t behind until the DUI case has concluded.