Off-duty Orlando police sergeant arrested on DUI charge at Winter Springs school

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — An off-duty Orlando police officer was arrested Tuesday on drunken driving charges while trying to pick up his daughter from after school care in Winter Springs, a Seminole County Sheriff’s Office arrest report said.

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Deputies said they were called shortly after 4:30 p.m. to Choices in Learning Elementary Charter School after Anthony Lappas, 42, showed up to the school drunk.

Investigators said Lappas parked in a through lane, blocking other vehicles from passing, and walked into a waiting room.

Lappas had trouble standing up straight, had to lean against a pole to steady himself and had bloodshot eyes, an arrest report said.

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School workers said he had trouble comprehending what they were telling him.

Deputies said Lappas returned to his pickup truck, circled the parking lot and pulled into a parking space.

“Anthony’s vehicle violently struck the concrete parking stop block, and as a result, the vehicle shook several times,” the report said.

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The school’s principal alerted a school resource deputy to the incident and Lappas was arrested.

He was booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on a driving under the influence charge.

The Orlando Police Department provided Channel 9 with the following statement on Lappas’ arrest:

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“On February 28th, 2023, the Orlando Police Department was notified that Sergeant Anthony Lappas was arrested while off-duty. Upon notification, Sgt. Lappas was relieved of his law enforcement duties and placed on administrative leave with pay, pending an internal investigation of the incident.”

See a map of the school below:

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