Daryl Joseph, director of the Jacksonville Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services, was arrested for DUI after a crash on New Berlin Road.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A City of Jacksonville official has been placed on administrative leave after being arrested for a DUI-related crash on the northeast side of the city.

Daryl Joseph, director of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services, is accused of crashing into a truck at the intersection of New Berlin Road and Cedar Point Road.

The incident happened after 11 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, according to an arrest report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Joseph had allegedly turned left in front of the truck, which had a green light, and then spun out into a ditch.

One of the people in the victim vehicle was taken to an emergency room after complaining of a tight chest and difficulty breathing.

The responding officer described Joseph as smelling moderately of alcohol, having 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.