San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy Arrested on Suspicion of DUI After Driving Through Military Base Gate


(MENAFN) A San Diego County Sheriff's deputy has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he drove through the main gate of a military base without stopping. The incident occurred at Naval Base Coronado on Friday night. The off-duty deputy, Sgt. Michael Cruz, has been working for the sheriff's department since 2006, according to a news release from the department.

Following the incident, Cruz has been placed on administrative leave while the Coronado Police Department and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigate the incident. Naval Base Coronado was put on lockdown after the vehicle drove through the facility's main gate without stopping.

Naval Base Coronado spokesperson Kevin Dixon confirmed that the driver was taken into custody by base guards after the "gate runner" drove without stopping through the entrance of Naval Air Station North Island, part of Naval Base Coronado. Several patrol cars surrounded the entrance near 3rd Street and Alameda Boulevard in Coronado around 10:30 p.m. Multiple gates at the air station near San Diego were closed while security personnel checked the facility.

In a statement on their Facebook page, Naval Base Coronado urged people to stay away from the main gate while security conducted its investigation. The main gate at Naval Air Station North Island was closed due to a security incident. Later, another post on Facebook stated that Gate 2 (Carrier Gate) was now open for inbound and outbound vehicle traffic. The outbound main gate at 4th Street was open to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, but the main gate inbound remained closed due to security activity.

Naval Air Station North Island is one of eight U.S. military installations that make up Naval Base Coronado. This incident follows a similar security incident at the same gate in February 2022, when a motorist was found with bomb-making materials. The driver was detained for questioning, and the materials were not assembled into a device.

The recent incident involving the San Diego County Sheriff's deputy highlights the dangers of driving under the influence and the potential consequences of such behavior. It also underscores the importance of maintaining security and vigilance at military bases and other sensitive facilities. The investigations by the Coronado Police Department and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service will shed more light on the incident and determine appropriate actions to be taken.

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