CMPD: Two arrested, including officer, after separate DWI crashes in southwest Charlotte

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and North Carolina State Highway Patrol are investigating two Driving While Impaired crashes that took place Saturday morning in, with one involving an off-duty officer.

Officers responded to call for service on Interstate 77 South near Arrowood Road in southwest Charlotte just before 3 a.m. and found that off-duty officer Marsaun Cook, who was driving his personal vehicle, rear-ended a vehicle. They could notice the smell of alcohol on him.

Marsaun Cook Cook will be placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, according to CMPD. (WSOC)

None was hurt in the crash, according to CMPD. After giving Cook a sobriety test, officers determined that probable cause existed to take Cook into custody for Driving While Impaired

“I have been resolute about holding employees accountable for their decisions,” CMPD Chief Jennings said. “I will not tolerate decisions made that violate the law, endanger the public and erode public trust.”

Cook was hired February 2017 and was assigned to the Education Outreach & Youth Services Division as a School Resource Officer at Olympic High School.

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Cook will be placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, according to CMPD.

Chief Jennings says he will not tolerate things like this. Here’s his full statement in this thread: @wsoctv https://t.co/PXwrxWtTkc
— Hunter Sáenz (@Hunt_Saenz) January 21, 2023

While officers were still working the first crash, another vehicle hit three marked CMPD vehicles. Two were badly damaged and the third was just sideswiped.

The CMPD vehicles were unoccupied during the crash and no one was hurt. The driver was believed to be driving while impaired and was later arrested and charged with a DWI.

The full statement from Chief Jennings is below:

“Driving While Impaired is a serious public safety hazard. Unfortunately, our people are not immune to human error. I have been resolute about holding employees accountable for their decisions. I will not tolerate decisions made that violate the law, endanger the public and erode public trust. Any time one of our members falls short of that expectation, thereby violating our standards and internal culture, we own it, and we take immediate steps to ensure that the trust and credibility we have established is not compromised.”

The investigation into the case is active.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

(WATCH BELOW: Several CMPD units respond to crash in South End)