Rogers County deputy arrested, accused of driving his patrol vehicle while intoxicated

A Rogers County deputy has been arrested, accused of driving while drunk in his patrol car Monday morning. 

The sheriff says the deputy was off duty at the time and ran over a street sign and hit a mailbox. 

Sheriff Scott Walton says he’s thankful no one was hurt. He says this is just the fourth time in his 17 years as Rogers County Sheriff that they’ve had to book one of their own in jail, and while it’s never easy, it’s important to own it and take responsibility.

Justin Book, Rogers County Deputy, arrest report

The arrest report for Justin Book says someone called 911, saying someone in a Rogers County Sheriff’s Office patrol car was driving erratically in Claremore and ran over a street sign. 

Claremore Police and Rogers County Deputies say Deputy Book had also run over his own mailbox. 

“Admittedly, he had said he had taken Ambien and further information for his wife, about 9:30 that morning, he had consumed an alcoholic beverage with rum in it. He showed signs of intoxication,” said Walton. 

Sheriff Walton says Book was off duty, and had just picked up his patrol car from a repair shop, then drove home. 

“He’s certainly been a standout employee. I’m not making excuses for what he’s done in any way, shape, or form, but I look at this man; he’s a veteran and he’s done a lot in the few years he’s been here,” said Walton. 

“You hurt for them, you hurt for their family. I certainly believe this shows all the signs that this man is fighting the devil and the disease of alcoholism or whatever else," Walton said.

Walton says law enforcement officers are and should be held to a high standard. 

He says this is an unfortunate situation, and his department will do what it can to help him. 

“When one of our own makes a poor decision, we want to make sure we own it, and every time in the past when one of our people went to jail, we’ve been up front with it. We told everybody about it, and it was a news story.” 

Book was arrested and accused of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.