LA County Deputy Missing After Crash Arrested On Suspicion Of DUI

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who went missing after a traffic crash in Stevenson Ranch only to be found at his home nearby has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and relieved of duty, department officials said.

The deputy's patrol SUV was found crashed in some bushes at Pico Canyon Road and Southern Oaks Drive about 9:30 p.m. Friday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported.

He allegedly crashed his patrol SUV while on the way home, according to a source familiar with the incident. Another off-duty deputy came to the scene and drove him to his nearby home, the Santa Clarita Valley Signal reported.

Deputy Carlos Lopez was found about 10:20 p.m. Friday, LASD Deputy Brenda Serna told the Los Angeles Times.

Lopez, a member of the department's Special Enforcement Bureau, was eventually taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital for treatment of a possible head injury and released a short time later.

He was arrested and released with a citation for a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, a source told The Times.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva issued the following statement on Twitter at 4:10 p.m. Saturday: "I have been notified of the incident involving a @LASDHQ employee. I am taking this incident seriously and will ensure this matter is properly investigated. Until the investigation is completed, I cannot comment on what the outcome will be."

— City News Service