By Erin Hill
QUINCY — Less than one month after being sworn in as Quincy’s new police chief, Brian Alexander was arrested Friday night on charges of driving under the influence after a Chattahoochee police officer reported finding him driving an unmarked Quincy Police Department vehicle on the wrong side of U.S. Highway 90, according to an arrest affidavit.
The affidavit states the arrest occurred shortly before 11:20 p.m. July 10 after a Chattahoochee Police Department officer observed a westbound vehicle traveling entirely in the eastbound lane of Highway 90, approximately 500 yards east of Lonesome Pine Road. The officer reported the vehicle continued in the wrong lane for about one-half mile, crossed both eastbound lanes and nearly left the roadway before returning to the proper lane.
After initiating a traffic stop, the officer identified the driver as Alexander, who activated the emergency lights on the unmarked Quincy Police Department vehicle as he pulled onto the shoulder. The affidavit states Alexander told the officer he was tired and had dozed off behind the wheel. The officer also reported that Alexander’s eyes were watery and that he detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. When asked whether he had been drinking, Alexander reportedly said he had consumed two mixed drinks.
Alexander agreed to perform standardized field sobriety exercises. The officer wrote that Alexander performed poorly on the horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn and one-leg stand exercises. Based on Alexander’s driving behavior, his admission to drinking alcohol and his performance on the exercises, the officer determined Alexander’s normal faculties were impaired and placed him under arrest on a charge of driving under the influence.
The affidavit further states that Alexander was read Florida’s implied consent warning and asked to submit to a breath test after his arrest. The officer wrote that Alexander refused multiple times, even after being advised of the consequences of refusing. He was also charged with refusing to submit to a lawful breath test.
Before being transported to the Gadsden County Jail, Alexander called his wife and asked her to retrieve the unmarked patrol vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Alexander was sworn in as Quincy’s police chief on June 15 after being selected to lead the department following the February termination of former Police Chief Carlos Hill.
Before accepting the Quincy position, Alexander served as chief of the Gretna Police Department. Prior to that, he spent more than 20 years with the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office before retiring.
During his swearing-in ceremony, Alexander pledged to lead the department with accountability, professionalism and integrity while strengthening trust between law enforcement and the community.
The Gadsden County News Service requested Alexander’s booking information from the Gadsden County Jail following his arrest. Jail staff declined to release the information, citing Florida Statute 943.05. However, that statute governs the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Criminal Justice Information Program and does not expressly exempt basic booking information or the fact of an arrest from disclosure under Florida’s public records law. Repeated attempts to reach jail officials by telephone for clarification and comment before publication were unsuccessful.
The Gadsden County News Service also contacted City Manager Roger Milton to ask whether Alexander would be placed on administrative leave or whether any disciplinary action would require action by the Quincy City Commission. Milton referred questions to the city’s legal counsel, Knowles & Randolph, P.A. A voicemail message was left with the law firm seeking comment, but no response had been received as of Tuesday’s publication deadline.
As of Tuesday’s publication deadline, the City of Quincy had not publicly announced whether Alexander had been placed on administrative leave or whether any disciplinary action had been taken.
Alexander’s case remains pending in Gadsden County Court. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
