Davie Town Council candidate Jordan Nelson arrested on DUI charges after crash near Hiatus Road and Orange Drive

Davie Town Council candidate Jordan Dempsey Nelson was arrested early Friday on three misdemeanor DUI charges after his pickup truck crashed into a guardrail and utility pole near Hiatus Road and Orange Drive, according to Broward County court records and a Davie police affidavit.

Davie police said an officer arrived shortly before 4 a.m. Friday at the scene of a single-car crash in the 11000 block of Southwest 45th Street. The officer found Nelson, 36, of Davie, in the driver's seat of a blue Ford F-150 that had struck the guardrail and knocked over a utility pole, the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, Nelson smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech. He agreed to voluntary field sobriety tests and failed them, the affidavit said. He then agreed to breath tests, which recorded a blood-alcohol content of .173% in one reading and .163% in a second reading. Florida's legal limit is .08%.

Court records show Nelson faces one count of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs as a first offense, one count of DUI with a blood-alcohol content above .15 and one count of DUI with property damage. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, court records said.

The affidavit estimates damage to the guardrail and utility pole at more than $20,000. Broward County court records put the total property damage at about $23,000.

Nelson's attorney, A. Randall Haas, said in an emailed statement that Nelson is "humbled by this experience and takes the matter very seriously." Haas said Nelson has taken appropriate steps to address the case through the legal process and remains focused on his campaign message.

Nelson is one of four candidates running for the District 3 council seat in the Nov. 3 election. The district includes areas south of Interstate 595 between South Pine Island Road and South Hiatus Road.

His campaign website says he supports transparent local government, responsible balancing of growth and development, and infrastructure improvements. The site also states, "I believe our town deserves responsible leadership, honest accountability, and infrastructure that keeps pace with growth."

Nelson's arrest comes weeks before Election Day and amid another law enforcement matter involving a candidate in the same race. The Broward County Sheriff's Office said deputies are investigating fellow District 3 candidate Toula Amanna over a Facebook comment that alleged violent action against the Deerfield Beach city government.

Amanna told Florida Politics earlier this month that the comment was altered after being posted in a private Deerfield Beach group discussing a charter referendum. She said she has an active lawsuit against Deerfield Beach concerning properties she owns and is working with an ex-FBI agent to address the situation. She did not respond to requests for comment.

Nelson's booking photo appears to show an injury to his face, according to jail records. He was released from jail by Monday morning, the records said.

The election is Nov. 3.