drunk deputy allowed to drive from crash scene #1, crashes 30 minutes later and injures someone

[Liberal_in_LA]

Off-duty O.C. sheriff's deputy is arrested on DUI charge after crashing twice within 30 minutes

March 5, 2010 | 3:02 pm
An off-duty Orange County sheriff’s deputy, who allegedly was intoxicated when he crashed his Mercedes-Benz into another vehicle and injured a passenger, had crashed 30 minutes earlier and was allowed to drive from that accident scene by fellow deputies, authorities said Friday.

Sheriff’s deputies were called Monday afternoon to a crash involving Deputy Allan James Waters, 36, and another vehicle outside City Hall in Dana Point. Deputies took a report and permitted Waters keep driving, said Assistant Sheriff Mike James.

About 30 minutes later, at 5:20 p.m., Waters crashed his Mercedes-Benz into a Toyota in Laguna Niguel, causing it to cross the center median and slam into a tree, according to the California Highway Patrol. Dolores Molina, a 78-year-old passenger in the Toyota, suffered minor injuries.

CHP officers said Waters showed signs of being intoxicated and was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was released Wednesday, according to jail records.

------------------------------

Waters had been placed on administrative leave about two months ago, but James would not say why. He said the deputy will remain on leave while the investigations are conducted

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/03/oc-deputy-arrested-on-dui-charge-after-crashing-twice-in-30-minutes.html

[npk]

1. Looks like somebody is in trouble

Whoever the officer was that let him drive away from that first accident, is gonna be in some deep shit, either civilly or administratively or both.

[Maru Kitteh]

16. It should be an automatic termination. You let a fellow officer slide, you lose your job.

[TornadoTN]

2. Deputy driving a Mercedes? Wonder what year and model it was?

Not there is anything inherently wrong with a Deputy driving a Mercedes, but it certainly makes you wonder what kind it is, and if its a newer one, how he could afford it. I've been to car auctions from repo'd and confiscated vehicles and the prices really aren't that good on the most expensive makes & models.

[951-Riverside]

4. "how he could afford it"

$600 a month car payment is peanuts when you're making $5,000 a month.

http://www.ocsd.org/join_ocsd/careers_salaries/deputy_sheriff_lateral/

[TornadoTN]

5. Wow. I didn't know that was the starting salary of Deputies out there

Still, with the cost of living being much higher there, it's still interesting to think about.

Deputies here in my area of Tennessee start out in the $21k-23k range. Cost of living is much lower, but they still barely scrape by without lots of overtime.

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. starting salary for LAPD = 45 to 48K

http://www.joinlapd.com/salary.html

[virgogal]

6. Oh for heaven's sake. Cops can have family money or inherit

money just like anyone else.

A working cop with a working wife and no kids could afford one.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

17. I'm a Fire Captain who also happens to be married to a Doctor.

Needless to say she makes quite a bit more than my 45,000 a year.

[asdjrocky]

3. 99% of cops give the rest a bad name.

[virgogal]

7. Nice,really nice. I'm the mother of a cop.

[asdjrocky]

8. Everybody has a mother.

I trust your son is one of the 1%.

[cabluedem]

9. Right on! You see how defensive this mother got about her little boy? nt

[virgogal]

14. Little boy? This is 2010---there are female cops you know.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

18. Just like the riddle in Tin Cup. They caught you red handed there.

[virgogal]

12. How did you know it was a son? Could have been a daughter,you know.

[cabluedem]

15. women always protect our boys.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

19. Yeah that's what you meant.

:rofl:

[MineralMan]

10. Oops! Now it's not just that deputy who's going to take it in the shorts.

[omega minimo]

13. Aside from being hit by a car, careening and slammed into a tree, the 78 year old is just fine

:sarcasm: