OCALA, Fla. — The Ocala Police Department has launched an internal affairs investigation after an officer failed to conduct a sobriety check on a driver who struck and killed two people minutes after a traffic stop. The crash occurred at the intersection of Southeast Mary Camp Road and Southeast 36th Avenue, killing a 50-year-old mother and her 31-year-old son.
Ocala Police Chief Mike Balkan confirmed that the lead officer involved in the initial traffic stop has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal probe.
The incident began when an officer observed a vehicle partially blocking a lane of traffic in the 2400 block of State Road 200. Two adult brothers were standing on the sidewalk, arguing over who would drive home. Body camera footage indicated both men had been drinking earlier in the evening and may have been impaired.
Officers on the scene did not conduct a driving under the influence investigation or question the driver’s sobriety. The brothers were allowed to drive away, and their vehicle collided with the victims’ car shortly after leaving the scene.
Chief Balkan detailed the background of the responding personnel during a news conference, noting that the primary officer had recently joined the force. “The primary officer that was on scene for the entirety of this interaction is extremely new to the agency. He’s been out of field training for about 30 days,” Balkan said. A backup officer and a sergeant later arrived at the scene but were not privy to the initial indicators observed by the preliminary officer. Balkan noted that department personnel undergo a recruit school, a four-month field training program, and a month of orientation. “We’re not chalking this up to a failure to train or anything like that,” Balkan said.
Balkan also consulted with the State Attorney’s Office regarding the primary officer’s actions. “I’ve already spoken with the state attorney’s office over potential criminal charges on the officer for failing to do his job. The state attorney has indicated that the actions did not rise to that level. But certainly as it relates to discipline, this is up to and including termination for sure,” Balkan said.
Balkan met with the victims’ family to share preliminary findings, review the footage and offer assistance through department victim advocates, who are working to connect the family with Victims of Crime Act grant funds. Balkan expressed regret over the department’s failure to prevent the crash. “I am profoundly sorry. I only wish we had done more to prevent this tragedy,” Balkan said.
The department released the body camera video publicly. Balkan noted that the video footage makes the driver’s condition apparent. “We wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t,” Balkan said. “I think anyone even outside of law enforcement can look at that and, based on the statements alone and some other indicators, would come to the conclusion that this driver was under the influence of something.”
The second vehicle involved in the crash contained the two adult brothers. The driver remains in critical condition, while the younger brother sustained minor injuries. Traffic homicide investigators are examining physical evidence, vehicle speed, and system factors. Balkan stated that law enforcement intends to pursue formal charges following the inquiry. “I fully expect that our traffic homicide investigators will work the evidence, the witness statements, all that up to bring forward a felony charge for potential DUI manslaughter or something to that effect,” Balkan said.
Chief Balkan stated that the internal affairs investigation is expected to be completed within about four weeks or less.
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