Courtesy photo. Volusia Sheriff's deputy Omar Lopez was arrested on speeding and other motor vehicle-related charges lodged by Edgewater police, including fleeing and eluding, during an attempted motor vehicle stop Tuesday afternoon. Lopez and fellow deputy Austin Litton, who was riding off-duty with him and also ticketed, have been placed on paid administrative leave by the Sheriff's Office.
EDGEWATER -- Volusia County Sheriff's deputy Omar Lopez has been placed on suspension with pay as a result of his arrest Tuesday afternoon by the Edgewater Police Department for fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, reckless driving and refusing to accept a citation, Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said this morning.
"The Sheriff's Office has initiated an internal investigation into the incident to determine whether Lopez violated any departmental policies or procedures," Davidson said.
A second deputy, Austin Littleton, who also was involved in Tuesday's incident, has also been suspended with pay, pending the outcome of the internal investigation.
Both deputies were off-duty and riding their personal motorcycles when they were observed traveling on U.S. 1 at an estimated 60 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone before turning onto West Indian River Boulevard, according to a report filed by Edgewater police officer Joshua Raver.
According to the Edgewater cop, he attempted to pull over both bikes, but only Littleton stopped while Lopez sped off.
Littleton wa isuued citastions charging him with racing on a highway; violation of a traffic control device and riding without an insurance card. He told told the officer he didn't realize the two were riding so fast and refused to provide Lopez's name, the report stated.
A short time later, other Edgewater officers caught up with Lopez, whom they said went out of his way to avoid being stopped a second time, before he was arrested at his New Smyrna Beach home on charges of fleeing and eluding, reckless driving and refusing to sign a citation, according to the report. He was released from the Volusia County Branch Jail early today after posting $3,000 bail.
Lopez, 34, has been with the Sheriff's Office since March 2004, and Littleton, 21, since August 2006. Both are patrol deputies.