Accused of driving his personal vehicle into a utility pole, an off-duty Georgia police sergeant was recently arrested for driving under the influence and placed on administrative leave. The sergeant was suspended and placed on probation after being arrested on a previous DUI charge in July 2018.
At approximately 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, off-duty Dunwoody Police Sergeant Robert Parsons crashed his personal vehicle into a utility pole. After Dunwoody police officers responded to the scene, they requested that the Georgia State Patrol investigate the incident to avoid any conflict of interest.
Upon completion of their investigation, the Georgia State Patrol arrested Sgt. Parsons and charged him with DUI – Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (Less Safe) and Driving in Roadways Laned for Traffic. Although his blood alcohol content was reportedly below the .08 legal limit, Parsons faces a DUI charge under Georgia law for consuming alcohol and driving before his arrest.
After his arrest, Parsons was incarcerated in the DeKalb County Jail. By departmental policy, he was immediately placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs investigation.
“Although innocent until proven guilty is the foundation of our legal system, I am greatly concerned that it appears like one of the leaders of our department made a terrible choice to drink and drive. As law enforcement officers, we are and should be held to the highest standards of conduct whether on or off duty. We will conduct a thorough investigation of this incident and the actions of our officer,” said Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan in a press release on Thursday.
On July 5, 2018, Parsons was arrested by the Georgia Department of Public Safety on a previous DUI charge while also off-duty. Charged with DUI, speeding, and failing to maintain his lane, Parsons had been suspended from the department for five days, placed on probation for two years, and required an alcohol assessment.
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