Palm Beach County deputies arrested an off-duty police officer Monday after he drove the wrong way down a Loxahatchee road and blew more than twice the legal limit on a breath test.
"We are on the same team," a shirtless Mikhail Hanson told deputies, according to his arrest report. "I work for Riviera Beach Police Department Road Patrol."
Hanson, 27, joined the Riviera Beach police in December. Accused of drunk driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, obstructing deputies and failing to obey their orders, he pleaded not guilty to all charges on July 27.
Circuit Judge Donald Hafele set his bail at $1,000 and forbade him from non-prescription drugs and alcohol. The judge also appointed a lawyer with the Public Defender's Office, which, as
a practice, does not comment on open cases.
A spokesperson for Riviera Beach Police did not immediately return a request for comment.
Arrested officer found with alcohol bottle, weapons in car
According to court records, an onlooker called 911 at about 2 a.m. to report Hanson for hitting curbs and driving north in the southbound lane of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. Deputies found him soon after near E Edinburgh Drive, still in the wrong lane.
They ordered Hanson over a loudspeaker to turn off his car and get out, but he remained inside, both hands held out of his window. After several more commands, Hanson told the deputies he was scared, then stepped outside.
Deputies said he was shirtless, had watery eyes and smelled like alcohol, an open bottle of Hennessey and loaded firearm magazines behind him in the car. They put him in handcuffs, at which point he informed them that he, too, was a member of law enforcement.
Deputies said that after being read his Miranda rights, Hanson gave inconsistent answers about where he had been and where he was headed. According to his arrest report, he said he'd drunk tequila at a friend's party but could not say how much.
Hanson agreed to a breath test at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. According to his arrest report, the readings came back nearly three times Florida's .08 legal limit.
Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. Reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Riviera officer charged with DUI, told officers 'we are on the same team'
