MILL CREEK — A King County sheriff’s deputy was arrested Friday morning after he crashed his patrol car in Mill Creek, rear-ending another car while on duty.
Investigators suspect he was impaired.
The deputy is 47 and a 19-year veteran of the force, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office. He was put on paid administrative leave while the investigation is under way.
The collision was reported just before 7 a.m. at the intersection of 132nd Street SE and the Bothell-Everett Highway.
Police-radio traffic captured several 911 calls about the deputy, who was initially reported as being seen slumped over in his Shoreline police car near 176th Street SW and Highway 99 in the Lynnwood area. He was followed or chased by local police into Mill Creek.
Shoreline contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office for police services.
Officers who responded to the crash summoned a Washington State Patrol drug-recognition expert. Alcohol did not appear to be a factor, King County sheriff’s Sgt. Cindi West said.
Troopers obtained a search warrant to take a blood sample. The deputy was released from custody pending test results.
The driver of the other car suffered “very minor injuries but was taken for observation to a hospital as a precaution,” West said.
Mill Creek police are investigating the collision. The King County Sheriff’s Office also plans an internal investigation.
Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies took custody of the crashed patrol car, spokeswoman Shari Ireton said.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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