A night out at a Seminole County sports bar allegedly ended with an assistant principal riding an electric bicycle home while intoxicated. According to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, 50-year-old Kenneth Bevan was arrested after deputies say he refused to submit to DUI testing involving his e-bike.
Deputies were originally called to Mulligan’s Pub after a bartender requested that Bevan leave the business. According to the arrest report, he complied without causing any issues. But when deputies arrived, they learned he had ridden an electric bicycle to the bar.
Instead of letting him ride away, deputies reportedly suggested another option. According to the report, an officer told Bevan he was too impaired to safely operate the e-bike and even offered him a courtesy ride home. Bevan declined, telling deputies he would simply walk the bike instead.
That wasn’t the end of the encounter.
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A Stop at 7-Eleven Changed Everything
According to the arrest report, deputies later observed Bevan walk his e-bike to a nearby 7-Eleven, where he purchased a 12-pack of beer.
Investigators say he then placed the beer on the bicycle and rode away instead of continuing to walk it. Deputies also noted the e-bike did not have a required front light illuminated while being operated at night, giving them another reason to conduct a traffic stop.
During the stop, deputies reported observing signs of impairment. According to the arrest report, Bevan declined to perform field sobriety exercises and refused DUI testing before being taken into custody.
An Assistant Principal on Summer Break
During the school year, Bevan serves as an assistant principal at Winter Springs High School.
The arrest occurred during summer break, and local reports indicate he was not under contract at the time of the incident. The matter now moves through the legal process and any employment-related decisions will ultimately be handled by the school district.
Can You Get a DUI on an E-Bike?
Many people assume DUI laws only apply to cars and trucks, but that’s not always the case.
In Florida, officers can pursue DUI charges when a person is operating a vehicle while impaired. Depending on the circumstances and the type of vehicle involved, that can include an electric bicycle. Officers don’t need a breath test to make an arrest if they observe signs of impairment, although refusing testing can carry its own legal consequences.
In this case, deputies initially offered Bevan another way to get home. According to the arrest report, he chose not to accept that option. Instead, investigators say the encounter ended with an arrest after he got back on the e-bike.
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