Post by WaTcHeR on Jun 17, 2006 13:42:57 GMT -5
06.17.2006 - A Nevada County Sheriff's lieutenant with 30 years of service was taken into police custody earlier this month on suspicion of felony drunken driving, following a car accident on Highway 174.
Nevada County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hughes of Nevada City is taking two weeks of personal leave from his job following the June 9 accident, after which he was arrested and released on suspicion of drunken driving.
Gold Run California Highway Patrol Officer Arturo Gutierrez said officer Hughes was driving his 1974 Ford van at 6 p.m. toward Grass Valley one half mile south of the Bear River when he crossed over the double yellow lines and hit a Ford Focus.
"Technically it was head-on but it wasn't bumper to bumper," Gutierrez said. "It was more left front side to left front side. The van was going at an angle."
The driver of the Ford Focus, Katherine White of Penn Valley, was taken by ambulance to Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital with a fractured and cut left arm.
White's mother and sister, who were passengers in the car, complained of minor pain and declined any medical treatment.
Officer Hughes was taken by ambulance to Sierra Nevada Hospital with a laceration to his ear, Gutierrez said.
A blood test was performed on Hughes at the hospital, he said, and Hughes was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and because of his injury, he was released to the custody of the hospital.
Hughes' van had been totaled, Gutierrez said, and Hughes most likely called someone from the hospital to pick him up.
Hughes was not available for comment Friday.
Gutierrez said the CHP would submit a report of the incident to the Nevada County District Attorney's Office.
"It's up to the DA's office what they want to do with it," Gutierrez said.
David Walters, the Nevada County deputy district attorney in charge of DUI cases, did not return a phone call Friday regarding the incident.
Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal said if the district attorney's office charges Hughes with a felony DUI, Hughes would be put on administrative leave.
"There are no official charges at this point," Royal said Friday. "There are no official charges until the DA files with court."
If Hughes is put on leave after being charged, the sheriff's office would conduct it's own internal investigation of Hughes' actions.
"We're held to a higher standard," Royal said.
He said anyone convicted of a felony cannot be a peace officer.
A DUI is typically classified as a felony if someone is seriously injured as a result of drunken driving.
"This is not a pleasant situation," Royal said. "Mike has done a great job for this organization and for the community. He's well-liked within and outside the organization and has always gone the extra mile to try and help people in the community."
Nevada County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hughes of Nevada City is taking two weeks of personal leave from his job following the June 9 accident, after which he was arrested and released on suspicion of drunken driving.
Gold Run California Highway Patrol Officer Arturo Gutierrez said officer Hughes was driving his 1974 Ford van at 6 p.m. toward Grass Valley one half mile south of the Bear River when he crossed over the double yellow lines and hit a Ford Focus.
"Technically it was head-on but it wasn't bumper to bumper," Gutierrez said. "It was more left front side to left front side. The van was going at an angle."
The driver of the Ford Focus, Katherine White of Penn Valley, was taken by ambulance to Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital with a fractured and cut left arm.
White's mother and sister, who were passengers in the car, complained of minor pain and declined any medical treatment.
Officer Hughes was taken by ambulance to Sierra Nevada Hospital with a laceration to his ear, Gutierrez said.
A blood test was performed on Hughes at the hospital, he said, and Hughes was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and because of his injury, he was released to the custody of the hospital.
Hughes' van had been totaled, Gutierrez said, and Hughes most likely called someone from the hospital to pick him up.
Hughes was not available for comment Friday.
Gutierrez said the CHP would submit a report of the incident to the Nevada County District Attorney's Office.
"It's up to the DA's office what they want to do with it," Gutierrez said.
David Walters, the Nevada County deputy district attorney in charge of DUI cases, did not return a phone call Friday regarding the incident.
Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal said if the district attorney's office charges Hughes with a felony DUI, Hughes would be put on administrative leave.
"There are no official charges at this point," Royal said Friday. "There are no official charges until the DA files with court."
If Hughes is put on leave after being charged, the sheriff's office would conduct it's own internal investigation of Hughes' actions.
"We're held to a higher standard," Royal said.
He said anyone convicted of a felony cannot be a peace officer.
A DUI is typically classified as a felony if someone is seriously injured as a result of drunken driving.
"This is not a pleasant situation," Royal said. "Mike has done a great job for this organization and for the community. He's well-liked within and outside the organization and has always gone the extra mile to try and help people in the community."