Fired sheriff's officer charged in another DUI crash

A former Collier County sheriff's lieutenant was arrested again Friday and charged with driving under the influence, two days after he was convicted of DUI in a rear-end crash that happened in his patrol truck while he was on duty.

Scott K. Anderson, 41, is charged with DUI and driving with a suspended license.

In Friday's crash, Anderson is accused of crashing into an off-duty deputy, Patricia Williams, who was in her personal vehicle, Collier County sheriff's spokeswoman Brigid O'Malley said.

The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. at Wilson Boulevard North and Golden Gate Boulevard East.

"She had possible injuries but it didn't appear they were life-threatening," O'Malley said.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers investigating the crash arrested Anderson, who was fired in March by the Sheriff's Office after his third arrest in less than two months.

Troopers were unavailable for comment Friday night.

O'Malley said she didn't know what kind of substance Anderson is accused of using that impaired his ability to drive.

After the crash, someone was transported to the hospital, but it was unclear Friday night whether that was Anderson or a different person.

Anderson

Because of the arrest, Anderson is likely to face a third new charge that could lead to more jail time. A new arrest could be considered a violation of his probation. If state prosecutors pursue that and he's found guilty, he could face the remaining balance of the maximum jail sentence for a DUI, a year, minus the 15 days he already served.

Earlier this week, Anderson's license was suspended for a year by Collier County Judge Vince Murphy, who convicted Anderson in a one-day trial and sentenced him to time served and a year of probation.

In that case, Anderson was found to be under the influence of a prescription drug, hydrocodone, when he rear-ended a car driven by a 42-year-old woman at 11 a.m. Feb. 15 at Davis and Lakewood boulevards. He was driving his Agricultural Unit patrol truck and was wearing his deputy's uniform.

In the one-day trial, held before the judge rather than a jury, the former lieutenant's attorney argued the prosecution couldn't prove he was impaired during the crash. But Murphy said he found ample evidence to show Anderson was driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

Anderson still faces three felony charges related to that case. Prosecutors say he illegally obtained prescription drugs from multiple physicians, going to several doctors for treatment and getting prescriptions from each of them. Investigators discovered that after troopers found numerous prescription pills scattered throughout his patrol truck after the crash.

He could face five years in prison on each of those charges.

The judge also sentenced Anderson to undergo a substance abuse evaluation and follow all recommendations for counseling.

Anderson had already served 15 days in jail because Murphy revoked his bond on the DUI charge after he was arrested a third time, March 29.

According to court records, Anderson refused to stop when a deputy tried to pull him over for weaving and speeding on Golden Gate Boulevard. He led deputies on a chase at up to 95 mph.

A motorcycle driver believed to be traveling at about 130 mph was severely injured when he crashed into a patrol car stopped where Anderson did eventually pull over, troopers who investigated the crash said.

Anderson stumbled as he got out of the truck, but he passed a field sobriety test, according to the Sheriff's Office.

He faces charges of fleeing law enforcement, a felony, and reckless driving, a misdemeanor.

Anderson's attorney, Donald Day, has said Anderson suffered a serious back injury some time ago that may have caused him problems culminating in his several arrests. Day was unavailable for comment Friday night.