Austin Police Officer Arrested For DWI

AUSTIN, TX — An officer with the Austin Police Department was arrested early Monday on a driving while intoxicated charge after traveling at a high rate of speed down West 6th St., according to a published report.

Referencing an arrest affidavit, the Austin American-Statesman reported that Shawnn Williams, 34, was pulled over just before 2 a.m. According to the arresting officer, Williams was clocked driving at 65 miles per hour along 6th Street, between Lamar Boulevared and MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1), before being pulled over.

According to the affidavit, an officer parked in a garage along the 1200 block of West 6th Street heard the sound of a car approaching noisily. The officer then pursued a speeding red Corvette before arresting his fellow officer, acccording to the report.

The affidavit noted that Williams' eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his speech slurred, his mental state confused and his breath smelling of alcohol. He also refused to take a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer analysis, according to the affidavit. Williams told the other officer he couldn't remember how much alcohol he consumed or where he had drinks, according to the affidavit.

The APD has implemented "no refusal" weekends that enable them to forcefully draw blood from motorists suspected of drunk driving via instant bench warrants from municipal judges. But it's unclear if Willaims underwent such a blood draw.

The Statesman reported that Williams, a corporal working in Central East Austin, is now on restricted duty following the arrest. It's not the first time Williams has run afoul of departmental policy: In 2013, he was suspended for six days after failing to write an offense report or write a ticket to a minor who admitted to drinking and driving, the Statesman learned.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

Shawnn Williams booking photo via Travis County Jail records