Daryl Joseph, who oversees Jacksonville’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, was taken into custody following a DUI incident on New Berlin Road.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A prominent Jacksonville city official has been put on administrative leave after being involved in a DUI-related collision on the city’s northeast side.
Daryl Joseph, the head of the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services, faces allegations of crashing into a truck at the New Berlin Road and Cedar Point Road junction.
The crash reportedly occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, as detailed in an arrest report by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Joseph is accused of making a left turn in front of the truck, which had the right of way with a green light, ultimately causing his vehicle to spin into a ditch.
One individual in the struck vehicle was transported to a hospital, experiencing chest tightness and breathing difficulties.
The officer at the scene noted that Joseph exhibited signs of alcohol impairment, including a noticeable odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and bloodshot, glassy eyes.
The report states that Joseph refused to perform field sobriety tests and fell asleep while in the back of the police vehicle. He was arrested for multiple DUI-related offenses, as well as refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test.
In a statement to First Coast News on Tuesday, a spokesperson with the mayor’s office said Joseph was placed on administrative leave through the remainder of the week as officials conduct an internal review.
According to a 2024 social media post from Mayor Donna Deegan, Joseph has served as a city employee for more than 20 years.
He is scheduled to be arraigned for his charges on Feb. 12, as of publication.
