Silke Jasso
Retired Mississippi police officer John Camfield, 48, has been arrested for his alleged role in a drunk-driving incident that saw Camfield veer off the road and hit five middle school students with his car, one of whom has now died.
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Around 5:00pm on April 28, Camfield allegedly lost control of his vehicle near students getting off a school bus from Dundee Ridge Middle Academy in Dundee, FL. His car hit Jonte Robinson, 15; Jasmine Robertson, 14; and Rylan Price, 12. Witnesses say Camfield leaned forward before his car surged off the road.
Camfield also hit Jahiem Robertson, 13, and Juan Mena, also 13. These two suffered significantly worse injuries than the other three, suggesting that Camfield’s vehicle rolled over all or part of both victims.
Jaheim Robertson would die at the hospital; he is Jasmine Robertson’s brother. Juan Mena is still alive but has life-threatening injuries, according to WTSP.
Camfield’s car stopped rolling when he hit a parked car. He was arrested later in the day. Seven hours after the alleged crash, Camfield had a blood-alcohol content of 0.147, which is nearly twice the legal limit.
He is charged with two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, two counts of leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, two counts of leaving the scene of a crash with bodily injury, three counts of DUI with injury and property damage, at least one count each of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, and one count of reckless driving, according to the New York Post.
Bond was set at $600,000 on Friday, April 28th.
A former employer told WTSP that Camfield had a problem with alcohol and used to say he “had a relationship with Captain Morgan.” Camfield has prior arrests in Mississippi for DUI, driving on a suspended license, and public intoxication.
.@PolkCoSheriff Grady Judd: "John Camfield is a total drunk." @FOX13News pic.twitter.com/ZiG6KWNsW7
— Lucas Bogg (@LucasBoggPhotog) April 28, 2017
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told WTSP that Camfield was so drunk during his arrest that he was unable to stand on his own.
