An Orlando Police officer who was the Fraternal Order of Police Orlando Lodge's 2015 officer of the year was arrested on a DUI charge early Saturday.

  • Officer Ben Gauntlett arrested on DUI charge Saturday
  • Gauntlett has been with Orlando Police since February 2013
  • He was Fraternal Order of Police Orlando officer of year in 2015

Benjamin Gauntlett, 26, of St. Cloud faces a charge of driving under the influence after being booked into the Orange County Jail.

According to an arrest affidavit, Gauntlett was seen by a deputy driving a Ford pickup erratically southbound on North Hughey Avenue early Saturday, near OPD headquarters.

The deputy said Gauntlett ran a red light at West Central Boulevard, then got onto the westbound Interstate 4 ramp. The deputy pulled over Gauntlett just before the East-West Expressway and reported that Gauntlett appeared intoxicated. Gauntlett refused field sobriety tests but was arrested and taken to the Orange County Sheriff's Office DUI testing center, where three breath tests registered .195 or above, the affidavit said.

A loaded firearm was found in the center console of the pickup, deputies said.

Gauntlett has been with Orlando Police since February 2013 and is assigned to midnight patrol. He has been relieved of his law enforcement duties, credentials and firearm pending an internal investigation, the department said.