An 11-year veteran police officer with the Hartford Police Department was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) on Sunday, Aug. 27. The 44-year-old man was arrested in Plainville, Connecticut, early that same morning after one of the small town's police officers noticed the man driving erratically along state Route 72.
When the Plainville Police Department officer pulled the man over, he noted that he had slurred speech. There reportedly was also a strong scent of alcohol emanating from the vehicle.
It's then that the Plainville policeman asked the veteran officer if he'd consumed any alcoholic beverages earlier in the day. The driver reportedly refused to respond to the officer's question.
The Plainville officer asked the Hartford officer to stand. He reportedly appeared to do so unsteadily. He also refused to to complete field sobriety tests when the officer asked him to. It appears that his failure to do so is what ultimately led to him also being arrested for police interference.
When asked to comment on the case, the Deputy Chief with the Harford Police Department said that his agency continues to assess how they should respond to the veteran officer's arrest. He notes that it's possible that he will be placed on leave after a thorough review of incident reports.
Drunk driving is a serious offense. A mere DUI charge alone can result in your license being suspended. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your arrest, if convicted, you could end up spending significant time in jail. A Windham, Connecticut, DUI defense attorney can advise you of your rights in your legal matter.
Source: New Haven Register, "Connecticut police officer charged with DUI," Aug. 29, 2017