Off-duty police officer arrested for drunk driving

WINDOW ROCK

An off-duty Navajo Nation Police officer from the Kayenta District was arrested Sunday night for allegedly driving under the influence.

According to a Tuesday afternoon statement from the Navajo Nation Police Department, the officer was seen by witnesses as being “visibly intoxicated” and “uncooperative.”

He had allegedly crashed his vehicle into a ditch near Mexican Hat, Utah, on U.S. Highway 163, which is about 42 miles northeast of Kayenta.

The statement said the officer was reportedly parked in the middle of the road near the small community before heading to a gas station. The statement also said several calls were made to the Kayenta Police.

Phillip Francisco, chief of the Navajo Police, said the department would not release the officer’s name but disciplinary action would be taken due to the alleged DUI offense.

“I am committed to restoring values of responsiveness, reliability and trustworthiness to this department,” Francisco said in the statement. I will not tolerate this sort of conduct from our officers. We are entrusted with the safety of the public. It is the oath we took.”

There were no other occupants in the vehicle at the time of the single-vehicle crash, the statement said.

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