A commanding officer in the Bensalem Township Police Department was arrested after a crash in Newtown Township that occurred in a municipally-owned vehicle.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to NewtownPANow.com that Bensalem Township police Lt. Jim Donnelly was in an unmarked police vehicle when he was involved in the crash in the area of the Newtown Bypass and Woodbourne Road.
No injuries were reported, but Newtown Township police responded and found Donnelly, who lives near the crash scene, and the damaged Bensalem Township vehicle, sources said.
Officers at the scene suspected Donnelly, who was not on duty at the time, was intoxicated, which led to his arrest, the sources said.
The extent of damage to the police vehicle was unknown, but the Bucks County Courier Times reported the vehicle had to be towed.
No charges were filed as of Friday, but DUI-related cases are typically not filed immediately after an arrest. Charges often are filed via summons and a district court date will be set.
Bucks County District Attorney Jen Schorn confirmed her office was aware of the incident and that an unmarked police vehicle was involved.
“Our office will handle this like we would any DUI investigation and prosecution,” Schorn said.
Donnelly is a former Philadelphia Police Department officer who has worked in Bensalem Township for approximately 20 years. He has served in various supervisory roles and was named administrative services commander last year.
Bensalem Township Police Department Director of Public Safety William McVey said Donnelly has been placed on “unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Donnelly’s biography was taken down from the Bensalem Township Police Department’s website on Friday.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
