FIRST ON 3: Pender sheriff discusses deputy’s DWI charge

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — After firing a deputy involved in an alleged drunk driving crash yesterday, Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith wants to make sure nothing like that happens again.

Sheriff Smith says William Paluck was charged on citation but not taken to a magistrate.

Smith says he did not see this coming, and he does not understand everything that happened yesterday.

“He made a huge mistake yesterday that will affect the rest of his life,” Smith said. “I feel blessed as sheriff that nobody was hurt.”

Sheriff Smith also said Paluck had not stopped by his duty station at Topsail Middle School like we were told.

He also says the Sheriff’s Office has reached out to the school. He says no one there saw any warning signs either.