Fairfax County police arrested one of their own officers recently for DUI following a non-injury, single-vehicle accident on an early Monday morning. The policeman is a veteran of the county police force and made contact with fellow law enforcement officers to report the overnight crash.
Police say the 41-year-old officer was charged with drunk driving after calling local police to the accident scene in West Springfield. The crash allegedly took place while the 16-year police veteran was off-duty and driving along Zion Drive near Grovewood Way. The officer was operating his own car and was the only occupant in the vehicle. The car crashed into a utility pole around 3 a.m.
The Fairfax County officer was not hurt in the incident. From the time the officer called in the accident information, police records say he was “thoroughly cooperative” with authorities. It is not clear whether a field sobriety or alcohol breath test was administered at the scene.
The off-duty police officer was arrested for driving while under the influence and was transferred to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. The length of time the police force veteran was detained at the facility is unknown. Arraignment and bond specifics also have not been reported.
The veteran policeman has been ordered to take an administrative leave by the Fairfax County Police Department, as officials conduct an internal investigation.
Being arrested for drunk driving can be a frightening experience. For many people, it is their first run-in with the law. However, as this case clearly illustrates, Fairfax County police make no exceptions for who they arrest for DUI. In situations like this, it is important to remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
Source: fairfaxtimes.com, “Fairfax County police officer charged with DWI,” Gregg MacDonald, Oct. 24, 2011
-
Facebook
-
Twitter
-
LinkedIn