At 1:30 AM, an off-duty officer advised an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy about a vehicle driving in excess of 100 mph on Interstate 10, drifting from left to right and going out of its lane. The car eventually pulled into Ticket Sports Bar but by the time the deputy arrived, it had left. The deputy later saw the vehicle turn onto Highway 297A, rapidly accelerating (clocked at 86 mph in a 45 mph) and coming very close to hitting another vehicle.
After the deputy pulled Fatu over, he noted Fatu had issues holding his license, registration, and proof of insurance. He had bloodshot and watery eyes, droopy eyelids, dilated pupils, and slow/slurred speech according to the deputy.
The deputy said he could smell an alcoholic beverage from the driver side window and asked Fatu several times to step out of the car. When he did, he appeared to be unsteady and the deputy asked him to ride with him to a flat parking lot to do a field sobriety test. Fatu agreed and then was reportedly confused and didn't know what was happening, asking if he needed a lawyer and if he was being detained.
According to the report, Fatu took out his phone and attempted to put it toward the deputy's face. At that point, he was arrested for DUI and became uncooperative, eventually getting into the police vehicle after being asked several times.
Fatu said he was uncomfortable with the police vehicle and wanted to speak with another deputy. The arresting officer said he had to roll down his back windows due to the overwhelming smell of alcohol in the car.