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Two veteran Seattle police officers are on paid administrative leave after being arrested on suspicion of a hit-and-run and driving under the influence early Monday morning. (AP Photo/file)

Two Seattle police officers arrested for DUI, hit-and-run

BY Brandi Kruse  on December 17, 2012 @ 10:12 pm (Updated: 5:41 am - 12/18/12 )

Two veteran Seattle police officers are on paid administrative leave after being arrested on suspicion of a hit-and-run and driving under the influence early Monday morning.

A Seattle Police Department spokesman said a citizen reported a collision just after midnight Monday in the 5300 block of 1st Avenue South. The witness told police a woman was driving a Nissan Altima when she struck a light pole. She stopped the car and switched seats with a male passenger, who then drove off.

Police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said officers did an area check and found the Altima a few blocks away with noticeable front-end damage. It was parked two to three feet from the curb with the engine still running. Officers recognized the pair in the car as off-duty Seattle police officers.

According to a police report, there was a strong smell of intoxicants coming from the vehicle.

Officers questioned the male occupant, who was identified by Sgt. Whitcomb as a veteran special operations officer. When asked at the scene if he "felt buzzed," the off-duty officer replied "maybe." When asked if he should have been behind the wheel, he said "Probably not."

The male officer was booked into jail for investigation of DUI /physical control and hit and run. A breathalyzer test placed his blood alcohol level at .161, more than double the legal limit of .08.

The female occupant, described as a veteran patrol officer, was also arrested for DUI/hit and run. Once in handcuffs, according to the report, she unleashed a curse-filled tirade that included several mentions of male genitalia. She repeatedly told officers she was "going to pee her pants."

"[The female officer] told me I was an [expletive]," the arresting officer wrote in his report. "She gave me the middle finger several times."

According to the report, the female officer had a blood alcohol level of .247.

Read the Seattle police report here (Warning: Explicit language)

It is still unclear what the pair hit with the Altima, despite the witness report.

The case has been referred to the Seattle City Attorney's Office for charges. According to Sgt. Whitcomb, the Office of Professional Accountability will launch an internal investigation into the incident.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (37)


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  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    LGBT
    December 18, 2012 5:13 am
    such a colorful language. I love diversity.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WT wrote...
    Seattle Knows how to pick'em alright!
    December 18, 2012 6:03 am
    These are the people watching over our community? And, people wonder why anyone would need to have a firearm for self protection.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • snikkers wrote...
    great!!
    December 18, 2012 6:04 am
    After reading this article it's very clear there's not enough evidence to convict and all charges will have to be dropped.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    Well thats to bad for the officers.
    December 18, 2012 6:06 am
    They are human and can make mistakes. Having a job can cause stress. Well I guess that stress is gone now its on to the next stress the state DUI wallet and purse money grab program. Caught in that trap that keeps you paying the state for years and years and years. Caught in thier own mouse trap. They should be back to work in a few days with wooden guns and a blow machine to start thier car.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    These people follow their leaders.
    December 18, 2012 6:27 am
    They follow by example. From their Mayor on down. Did the female L/E get special treatment to get hired on ???? We all know the answer to that. Bellevue P D will be happy to look into this. They are very experienced in NON accountability. Specialist to be exact.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    I'm just curious if......
    December 18, 2012 7:21 am
    KIRO will be giving this story the week long grilling they gave the Bellevue PD.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    TERMINATED
    December 18, 2012 7:49 am
    These two worthless Pieces of defication should be terminated IMEDIALTLY! That so called police woman sounds like she is a real piece of work. Sounds like she is a real lady. FIRE THEM BOTH NOW. Are you kidding me? Hit and run, Liars, verbal abuse on another police officer. YEA FIRE THE IMMEDIATLY!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Boeing is paying you to be here all day, all night . . . .
    December 18, 2012 7:53 am
    what the diff?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SnakeBite wrote...
    Kops
    December 18, 2012 7:58 am
    These people will NEVER learn. Never. To think these clowns are considered "Seattle's Finest" is a stand-up comic's joke. It's obvious SPD has no vetting policy to keep these type of morons out of uniform. Notice, per the story, the "maybe" answer as well as the "probably not" response of one of these "officers". You try that in court and you'll be cited for contempt. Then you have the female "officer" cursing at and berating her associates. Breathtaking behavior for an "officer". Imagine if one of these idiots is testifying against you in a court proceeding. You think they will be honest and forthwith? I think Bellevue PD may have a place on the staff of these elite, very fine, very professional "officers". This is utterly pathetic. And then one of the dim bulbs on the Seattle City Council in a previous matter says we need to re-gain the "trust" of the citizens. It ain't gonna happen with these types of "officers". This batch of Kops from both Seattle and Bellevue PD's must be from the bottom of the barrel. They shouldn't be security guards much less kops with guns. And here comes the labor union or police guild on a white horse ready to rescue their mis-understood compatriots. This stuff in bone chilling.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SnakeBite wrote...
    Kops Again
    December 18, 2012 8:01 am
    SPD motto" "Pride", "Service" & "Dedication"......thanks for the morning laugh.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Hmmmmm?
    December 18, 2012 4:17 pm
    I always thought it was Pride, Integrity & Guts! Disgraceful. These jackasses should be fired. In the real world, Joe taxpayer would be in jail....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }