Pinellas County Detention Deputy Terminated After DUI Arrest

A corporal of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was terminated last month after deputies from her department arrested her on suspicion of DUI.

JoAnna Michelle Barker was stopped by deputies at Gulf Boulevard and Coral Avenue at a quarter to two o’clock on the morning of February 20. They say her 2013 Chevrolet SUV was traveling 67 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone.

Upon yielding to deputies, Barker informed them that she was an off-duty detention corporal in the PCSO’s Department of Detention and Corrections. They say the 35-year-old showed signs of impairment at the time, and they allege that a breath test for alcohol returned a blood-alcohol content of 0.217% and 0.214%, which is significantly above 0.08%, which is the level at which the state of Florida presumes impairment.

Barker was transported to the Pinellas County Jail and booked later that morning on one count of driving under the influence. She was released on her own recognizance at half past ten o’clock the same morning.

Hired on October 17, 2011, Barker’s employment with the PCSO was terminated the same day as her arrest, which, according to the sheriff’s office, is consistent with the sheriff’s policy.

The Law Offices of Bjorn Brunvand have been representing people charged with capital murder, felony drug charges, drunk driving, government fraud, and white-collar crimes for over a quarter century. Contact our office today to discuss your Tampa Bay-area state or federal charges.