Officer Vernon Stevenson Arrested for Drunk Driving

For the third time this summer, an Austin police officer has been arrested for drinking and driving.

Vernon Stevenson was off-duty when he was arrested early Monday morning along U.S. in Northeast Austin. He was on his personal motorcycle when an officer headed in the other direction noticed the bike laying on its side and Stevenson trying to pick it up.

According to the arrest affidavit, before the other officer could turn around, Stevenson left the scene. That officer then saw him swerving between lanes.

Stevenson was pulled over and the officer smelled alcohol on his breath and noticed his eyes were bloodshot. He refused to a field sobriety test and was arrested for DWI.

No one in the police department would comment, but Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo has made it clear in the past that drunk driving enforcement is a top priority

Jim Currier of Mothers Against Drunk Driving said officers are not setting a good example.

“Sometimes people in professional roles make bad decisions,” he said.

This is the third Austin police officer arrested DWI this summer. Last month, an APD detective, Joe Lucas, was arrested in Bell County; and in early June, Lieutenant Robert Hernandez was arrested after failing a field sobriety test in Hays County.

Currier believes officers who break the law shouldn't get special treatment.

“It's absolutely a huge disappointment to us and we are thankful that the arresting officers did their job in this case,” he said.

Stevenson was released on a $3,000 bond. He is on restrictive duty while the department conducts an internal investigation.