COVINGTON, La. — A St. Tammany Parish deputy chief who was fired Friday following an arrest on suspicion of drunk driving tried to impose his status as a high-ranking official after he was pulled over on the Causeway Bridge, a police report shows.
Deputy Chief Greg Longino, head of corrections at the sheriff's office, was booked at the jail he supervises after the arrest report says Causeway Police pulled him over going 108 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone early Thursday morning. He then failed a field sobriety test and was arrested, officials said.
Longino, a 29-year veteran of the force, was placed on administrative leave following his arrest and Sheriff Randy Smith announced the same day he would "...be treated like any other citizen and will receive no special treatment." On Friday morning, Smith announced Longino was terminated from his position.
The Causeway incident report shows that Longino was pulled over as his GMC Acadia SUV reached well over 100 mph on the Causeway while "swerving and striking the centerline on multiple occasions."
Once stopped, Longino "advised officers that they should know who he was," and kept asking his arresting officers if he was being taken to "his jail," according to the report.
As he was being read his Miranda Rights, Longino, one of Sheriff Smith's top aides, reportedly continued to interrupt an officer by repeating his status with the STPSO. He refused a breathalyzer but agreed to a blood test, officials said.
Longino was booked for first offense DWI, Careless Operation and Speeding.
His bond was set at $2,500 for each charge. His vehicle was reportedly released to an STPSO captain at Longino's request.
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