A off-duty Baldwin County deputy and two other Alabama men were arrested last month and charged with grand theft auto after taking a UTV owned by the City of Pensacola.

Police say they believe it was an ill-advised joyride after an apparent night of drinking in downtown Pensacola.

Pensacola police confirmed to AL.com that 26-year-old deputy Danny Contreras, along with 26-year-old Adolfo Lopez of Foley and 27-year-old Eliseo Sanchez of Summerdale, were taken into custody after police caught the three men in the city-owned utility vehicle.

On Monday night, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office identified Contreras as a deputy with the department, adding that he had been placed on paid administrative leave shortly after learning of his Dec. 8 arrest.

By Dec. 22, Contreras had been placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of a Professional Standards investigation.

Mike Wood, Public Information Officer for the Pensacola Police Department, told AL.com the incident appeared to be a case of an ill-advised joyride following a night of drinking in the Seville Quarter entertainment district in downtown Pensacola.

“That’s certainly the way it appears to us,” Wood said.

Contreras reportedly admitted to police he and his two companions were making their way to Contreras’ truck about 2:50 a.m. when he saw the UTV in the downtown parking garage where his truck was parked and got behind the wheel, driving off with the two men as passengers.

The men were stopped by police on Tarragona Street, a short distance from Seville Quarter. Searching the vehicle, officers found items confirming it was a city-owned vehicle.

Contreras reportedly admitted to police it was his idea to take the UTV, calling it “a stupid decision.”

According to the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail docket, Contreras, Lopez and Sanchez each posted bond and were released several hours after their arrests. Contreras posted $1,000 bond and was released at 9:48 a.m.; Lopez also posted $1,000 bond and was released at 11:03 a.m., while Sanchez — although charged with the same offense — had bond set at $2,500, which he posted and was released at 12:51 p.m.

It wasn’t immediately known why Sanchez’ bond was more than double that of Contreras and Lopez.

Grand theft auto is a 3rd-degree felony in Florida. If convicted, the three men each face up to five years in prison, five years probation and a fine of up to $5,000.