A Marco Eagle reporter who recently reported on a driving under the influence case involving a Marco Island city employee was arrested Saturday on suspicion of DUI in North Naples.
Devan Patel, 33, faces a misdemeanor charge of DUI, first offense, according to a Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. The Marco Eagle is a sister publication of the Naples Daily News.
Deputies observed a silver Honda Civic turning from westbound Pine Ridge Road to head north on Livingston Road, “screeching its tires as it made the turn” about 12: 45 a.m., the report states.
The Civic then continued at a “high rate of speed” on Livingston, reaching 72 mph in a posted 45 mph zone, and “appeared to be swaying in its lane,” deputies wrote.
Deputies pulled over the car and arrested Patel following a field sobriety test, according to the report.
Results of breath tests at the Naples Jail Center showed Patel had a blood alcohol content of 0.149 and 0.142, the report states. The legal limit in Florida is 0.08.
Patel in July reported on a Marco Island purchasing and risk manager who was arrested on suspicion of DUI after a crash.
Patel was released after entering into a pretrial supervision agreement, court documents show. He declined to comment.