An off-duty officer from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was detained early Tuesday morning on two misdemeanor charges after allegedly driving a marked police car while intoxicated.
According to IMPD officials, officers from the department’s Northwest District rushed to the 1500 block of Stadium Way just after midnight on Tuesday after receiving a complaint of difficulty with a person.
When officers arrived, they discovered that off-duty officer Chaise Watkins was attempting to park his marked police vehicle in a parking spot at an apartment complex. The agency stated that officers observed Watkins to be inebriated at the time.
As the inquiry progressed, detectives from the IMPD’s Special Investigations Unit arrived at the scene, along with an investigator who specializes in cases of driving while intoxicated. Officials say Watkins was taken to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.
IMPD officers stated that probable cause was established to arrest Watkins on the following preliminary misdemeanor charges:
- Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person
- OVWI with a BAC of 0.15 or higher
Tanya Terry, the IMPD chief, placed Watkins on administrative leave with no police powers. The department stated that Watkins has been with IMPD for three years and was most recently assigned to the North District.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make the final charging decision in this matter.
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