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NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera Frederick. Kevin Fall, director of the New Smyrna Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, was charged Nov. 14, with speeding, driving with an open container of alcohol and driving a motor vehicle without his registration. Even though he identified himself as a city employee, he was not given special treatment, police said.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Community Redevelopment Director Kevin Fall was not given a field sobriety test, even though he had an open container of alcohol when he was pulled over last weekend, police said.
"It was officer's discretion," a police spokesman said of the decision not to have Fall do a series of physical exercises by the side of his vehicle when he was stopped eight days ago, 6:53 p.m. Saturday in the 3300 block of Saxon Ave., near East 226th Avenue, by police officer Joe Hunchard on a charge of driving 51 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Hunchard determined Fall was not impaired, the police spokesman said. An open can of beer fell out of the pssenger side door during the stop. A video was made of the traffic stop. Fall, 45, was given three tickets charging him with speeding, driving with an open container of alcohol and driving without his motor vehicle registration, all three infractions.
Though Fall identified himself to the cop as a city employee, no special favors were shown him, the police spokesman emphasized.
Fall is paid nearly $65,000 annually as director of the city's CRA, which is responsible for millions in street and business enhancement projects. He has been employed with the city since Sept. 24, 2007. As department head for the CRA, Fall supervises three employees and is responsible for an annual operating budget of $2.09 million.
Because Fall was out of town on city business last week, Interim City Manager Pam Brangaccio said she would not comment on the incident since had not yet spoken to Fall.
A message left with Fall's staff for comment by NSBNEWS.net was not returned. Mayor Adam Barringer called the incident "unfortunate" and said he expects Brangaccio will take appropriate action.
The tickets issued to Fall are mere allegations and he is presumed innocent in a court of law. The tickets are non-criminal infractions of state law punishable by fines, if found guilty in court.