Junior lifeguard coordinator charged with DUI

DESTIN -- Alexander Philip Metz, coordinator of Destin Fire District’s Junior Lifeguard program, was arrested Feb. 2 and charged with DUI and failure to maintain a single lane.

Metz, 23, was driving eastbound on U.S. Highway 98 about 3 a.m. when a Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputy noticed that his vehicle was straddling the white line dividing lanes. After Metz switched lanes, he continued to occupy portions of two lanes of traffic, according to his arrest report.

The deputy stopped Metz, who said he had been drinking “not much, but too much.” He later said he was too drunk to drive and was being honest so he wouldn’t get arrested.

He had difficulty with portions of the field sobriety test and blew a .152 on his blood alcohol test, the report said.

Fire Chief Kevin Sasser said Metz told him about the arrest.

“We’re going to look at everything, and based upon our findings we’ll make a decision,” Sasser said.

Metz is out on bond and has a March 10 court date.