Who:       
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-DUI Unit
 
Christi Ruhtz (Arrested)
Age: 41
Date of Hire: 12/21/1998
Employment: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office- Lieutenant of Public Records Processing Unit.
Charges: One count of Driving Under the Influence

What:
Deputies assigned to the Patrol Operations Bureau have arrested a Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant for DUI.

When:
The incident occurred at about 1:49 a.m. on Sunday, March 18, 2018.

Where:
The incident occurred around the area of 130^th Avenue and Wild Acres Road in Largo.

Why/How:

Deputies assigned to the Patrol Operations Bureau - DUI Unit, have arrested a Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant for DUI.

At about 1:49 a.m., on Sunday, March 18, 2018, deputies responded to a concerned citizen calling about a disturbance due to a vehicle honking its horn in a neighborhood. Deputies arrived on scene and observed a vehicle driving in reverse while honking its horn. Deputies made contact with the vehicle and Ruhtz, who was the only occupant in the vehicle.

Deputies noted Ruhtz showing signs of impairment by having bloodshot, glassy, and watery eyes and a distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her mouth. Ruhtz agreed to perform Field Sobriety Tests, but performed poorly on them.   

Deputies say that Ruhtz refused to submit a breath sample for the criminal investigation. Ruhtz was required to submit to an administrative breath sample due to her employment with the Sheriff’s Office which indicated she had a BAC of .14/.13.

Ruhtz was arrested and charged with one count of Driving under the Influence. She was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.

Ruhtz was hired by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, on December 21, 1998. She worked as a Lieutenant in the Public Records Processing Unit.

Ruhtz’s employment was immediately terminated following the arrest, which is consistent with Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office policy. 

Booking photo of Ruhtz