File photo
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
Two internal investigations are under way stemming from an alleged incident involving a sergeant for the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office.
The first probe is being handled by Newtown Township police and the second is being run at the county level, officials and sources said Wednesday.
According to a report from the Doylestown Intelligencer, a sergeant with the sheriff’s office was pulled over at Stoopville Road and Clymer Street by Newtown Township police on the morning of August 13 after his county-owned Chevrolet Impala was spotted “swerving all over the roadway.” The car was found to have a flat spare tire on it at the time. The newspaper article by reporter Jim Boyle states the sergeant – who NewtownPANow.com is not naming as no charges have been filed – “allegedly had alcohol on his breath while driving a county vehicle.”
The article, which cited police documents, states the sergeant was released and the county car with a flat tire was towed. The initial police write-up reportedly did not include that the lawman allegedly had the smell of alcohol on his breath.
It was not clear as of press time whether the sergeant was on the county’s time at the time of the August incident. In addition, it was not made public whether the sheriff office’s Impala, a car commonly used in the sheriff’s department fleet, was being used with authorization.
The criminal investigation has concluded without any charges.
“The case was referred to us, but since Newtown Township PD had already determined not to charge him, we didn’t want to usurp their discretion with ours. If charges were filed, then we would prosecute them, just as we would in any other case,” Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said.
Since the time of the alleged incident, the sergeant has filed paperwork to resign from his position in the sheriff’s office, said a source with knowledge of local law enforcement.
“We’re looking into the policy, and if they were followed. That’s where we stand right now,” Newtown Township police Chief Rick Pasqualini said. He added that his investigation wasn’t about charges but making sure officers followed inter-departmental protocol.
Bucks County spokesman Chris Edwards said he was unable to offer comment due to the issue being an “unresolved personnel matter.” A source within county law enforcement said the sheriff’s office is conducting their own internal investigation into the actions of the sergeant.
Representatives from the sheriff’s office were not immediately available for comment.
