PG County Cop Drives Drunk, Crashes Into Guardrail: Police

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — A Prince George's County police officer has been arrested and suspended for driving under the influence after crashing in his cruiser, the second time in the last five years that he's done that, according to a report from the Prince George's County Police Department.

Police say Officer First Class Christopher Brown faces multiple counts of driving under the influence and speeding after his cruiser clipped the back of a tractor trailer near Pennsylvania Avenue and I-495 at around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Brown lost control of his cruiser, which struck a guardrail, the report states. The driver of the tractor trailer was not hurt.

"The preliminary investigation reveals, Brown left the scene following the crash but returned a short time later," the report states. "Responding officers suspected PFC Brown was under the influence of alcohol and he was arrested. He was not hurt in the crash. He was driving a marked cruiser."

In 2012, Brown was involved in another crash in his cruiser while under the influence in Oxon Hill, the report adds, noting that he pleaded guilty to the charges and was disciplined administratively.

“I find the circumstances surrounding this incident gravely troubling and I apologize to the community for the appearance of impropriety. Know that, as always, when I have the facts I will take appropriate action to remedy this and I will make the facts known to the public,” said Chief Hank Stawinski in the statement.

Image via PGPD