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Firefighter charged with driving under the influence

By Staff | Oct 28, 2010

Cape Coral police arrested and charged a firefighter with driving under the influence as he was reportedly heading home from Oktoberfest.
Daniel John Garretto, 22, is facing one count of DUI. He was booked at the Lee County Jail Friday and was released on $750 bond as of Wednesday.
According to an arrest report, an officer observed a Nissan Titan traveling east on Pine Island Road near the intersection of Chiquita Boulevard at about 9:16 p.m. Friday. The truck was straddling lanes as it approached the intersection, then “jerked to the left and entered the left turn lane.”
The Nissan reportedly failed to stop at the red light, entering the crosswalk. The driver then reportedly waited a few moments before making a left turn against the red light. The Cape officer followed and conducted a traffic stop.
Garretto was identified as the driver of the Nissan, according to the report. He told the officer that he was coming from Oktoberfest and had consumed “a lot of beer” including three 32-ounce pitchers and at least one small beer. He said he was just trying to get home because he was leaving on vacation.
Garretto also reportedly showed a Bayshore Fire Department badge.
The officer conducted a set of field sobriety tests before placing Garretto under arrest for DUI. According to the report, Garretto asked several times to be let go and stated that “this shouldn’t be happening to him because he was an EMT firefighter.” He also accused the officer of “ruining his life.”
The report states that Garretto blew a .150 and .136 on a breath test.
During a vehicle inventory, the officer located six 32-ounce pitchers and one smaller pitcher from Oktoberfest on the passenger floor board of the truck, according to the report.
Garretto has a court date set for Nov. 8.