22. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood silent on deputy arrested two years in a row on DUI charges

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Headline Surfer photo illustration / Sheriff Mike Chitwood was silent after one of his deputies was arrested twice in two years on DUI charges.

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

DELAND, Fla. -- An off-duty Volusia sheriff’s deputy was arrested back in March 2021 on his second charge of driving under the influence two years in a row.

Deputy Aaron Chavez was pulled over by a DeLand police officer shortly before 2 a.m. Friday, March 5, after the officer witnessed his truck traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of International Speedway Boulevard.

The officer followed as Chavez’s truck proceeded through a red light, made a left turn onto Woodland Boulevard, swerved and pulled over for the traffic stop.

When the officer approached the truck, he could smell the odor of alcohol and noted that Chavez’s eyes were glassy and his speech slurred.

Chavez was taken into custody without incident on charges of DUI and refusal to submit to DUI testing. He was also cited for traveling on the wrong side of the roadway, failure to stop at a red light, and violation of driver’s license restrictions (allowing driving for business purposes only).

Chavez, 34, was previously arrested for DUI on March 21, 2020, when a Volusia sheriff’s sergeant responding to complaints about a reckless driver pulled him over north of DeLand. Chavez was off-duty in that incident as well. 

Sheriff Mike Chitwood was silent on Chavez's two DUI arrests. 

As if Chavez's driving offenses were not enough of an embarrassment for Chitwood and the VCSO, he was arrested Sept. 12, for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Chavez was found alone - his vehicle stuck in a ditch when a deputy approached his truck, according to an arrest affidavit.

As if Chavez's driving offenses were not enough of an embarrassment for Chitwood and the VCSO, he was arrested Sept. 12, for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Chavez was found alone - his vehicle stuck in a ditch when a deputy approached his truck, according to an arrest affidavit.

When the officer asked how he got stuck, Chavez pumped his accelerator trying to get out, records show. After running a search, the deputy said he found that Chavez’s license was suspended due to the previous DUI charges. Chavez was taken into custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail.

Chavez resigned from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office after the second DUI arrest.

Criminal case updates:

Aaron Chavez pleaded no contest on Aug. 27, 2020, to a reduced charge of DUI reckless driving in the 2020 criminal case, and adjudication of guilt was withheld. He was subsequently placed on probation for one year. Regarding his second DUI arrest, Chavez pleaded no contest to driving under the influence on Aug. 6, 2021. His sentence is pending in that case. His third case remains open.

Henry Frederick bio / Headline Surfer

About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.

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