When New Jersey police are dispatched to a collision or for other problems on a roadway, they typically have body cameras turned on if they are going to approach someone. This is a safety measure for both citizens and police officers. When a recent incident brought police to a particular section of road, they turned off their body cameras after realizing that the driver they suspected of DUI was their own department chief.
The police department had been called to the scene after a traveler reported that a person was driving erratically. When the officers arrived on-site, they discovered a man lying on the road near his vehicle. The patrol officers believed that the man had recently exited his car and then apparently fell. His cellphone and car keys were laying nearby.
Police chief allegedly said that he does not remember driving
The chief allegedly told the responding officers that he did not recall driving the vehicle. On occasion, a driver suffers a medical emergency before a collision, causing the individual to have no memory of the moments or hours leading up to the crash. In this case, the police chief was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a head injury.
Defense necessary in light of DUI charges
The New Jersey police chief has since been charged with DUI, reckless driving and several other infractions. Like all accused individuals, he will have the opportunity to present a defense in court. To obtain as positive an outcome as possible in such circumstances, it is always best to seek legal counsel before proceedings begin.