During "Operation CARE," 4 charged with DUI and 74 issued traffic citations
Mugshot graphic provided by CCSO.
Citrus County, Florida - Over the Saint Patrick's Day weekend, the Citrus County Sheriff's office (CCSO) joined Operation CARE (Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort), led by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), in an effort to increase officer presence on Interstate and U.S. highways across the nation during specific high crash periods.
As part of this operation, the CCSO and its partners at the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) conducted 75 traffic stops, which resulted in four DUI arrests (one by FHP) and a 74 traffic citations being issued.
The following three people were taken into custody for DUI by the CCSO:
Michael Steven Shafer, 30, of Crystal River, FL, was pulled over after failing to stay in his lane of travel, nearly hitting seveal vehicles. His bond was set at $1,000 .
Christopher Mark Parreault, 56, of Inglis, FL, was stopped after deputies observed his vehicle make multiple traffic infractions. His bond was set at $1,000.
Stephen Anthony Rivera, 51, of Inverness, FL, was failing to stay within his designated lane of travel when deputies activated their overhead red and blue emergency lights, and instead of pulling over, Rivera lead deputies on a brief pursuit where he continued to swerve in and out of lanes, before he stopped to let a passenger out, along the side of the road, and sped off again. The passenger alerted deputies that Rivera was "heavily intoxicated." Rivera continued to flee from deputies at reckless speeds. He conducted multiple U-turns, came within feet of ramming a patrol vehicle, and almost hit numerous other vehicles in the before he finally cane to a stop and was apprehended by law enforcement.
"Driving while under the influence of any substance is reckless behavior. It is simply selfish to risk, not only their lives, but the lives of countless innocent people by getting behind the wheel," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "I am beyond disappointed in those choosing to operate a vehicle while under the influence. Our units will continue to be on the roadways protecting our community from their careless decisions by targeting those who make these selfish decisions. Operation or not, CCSO is dedicated to keeping intoxicated and erratic drivers off our roadways. While our actions may not always be visible, our dedicated team is always out in full force to ensure the safety of our motorists and community."