Crime & Safety

Arrest Warrant Issued For Former Long Valley Cop Accused Of DUI

An arrest warrant was issued for former Officer William McCarthy after he failed to attend his DUI trial in Pennsylvania.

LONG VALLEY, NJ — An arrest warrant has been issued for a former Washington Township police officer who failed to show up for his trial on driving drunk charges in Pennsylvania, court officials told Patch.

William McCarthy II was arrested and charged with drunk driving while off-duty in Hazelton, P.A., and Tamaqua, P.A. in June 2016. His trial was scheduled for Monday, but a court administrator told Patch he did not show, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

As Patch previously reported, McCarthy allegedly struck multiple cars in both towns while under the influence. In addition to DUI, he was also charged with resisting arrest and reckless driving.

Find out what's happening in Long Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

McCarthy, 45, from Great Meadows, was an officer with the Washington Township Police Department at the time of his arrest, and had been suspended without pay. He voluntarily resigned in Nov. 2016, Lt. Douglas Compton told Patch on Tuesday. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

This was not McCarthy's first drunk driving arrest. He had previously been arrested in Blairstown in 2015, and lost his license for 90 days. He was suspended without pay from the WTPD during that time, as Patch reported.

Find out what's happening in Long Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


Update, 2:38 p.m.: This article has been updated to reflect new information about McCarthy's employment status from the Washington Township Police Department

Image via Shutterstock

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.