An Indianapolis police officer has been arrested after officials claim she drove to a crime scene and investigated while drunk on duty.
Caitlin Harris, 34, was arrested over the weekend on preliminary accusations of driving while intoxicated and OWI while endangering another person, both misdemeanors. Harris is a detective for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s child abuse section.
According to IMPD, Detective Harris was summoned to the scene of an investigation on Sunday evening. She was apparently the on-call investigator for the day and arrived on the site to assist other officers.
As the inquiry came to a close, cops reported smelling alcohol on the detective’s breath and contacted their supervisor. According to IMPD, a sergeant rushed promptly to the location, but Harris had already completed her investigation and driven away.
The sergeant apparently called Harris and told her to pull over so they could meet. Harris apparently ignored this and drove home.
Soon after, IMPD reported that a lieutenant met Harris at her house and felt she was under the influence of alcohol. She was then transported to a local hospital for a blood draw, when an OVWI investigator and other detectives arrived and began their investigation.
IMPD stated that Harris was under the influence. She was subsequently detained on preliminary accusations of driving while intoxicated (OVWI), a C misdemeanor, and OVWI endangering another person, an A misdemeanor.
That same day, IMPD Chief Tanya Terry put Harris on administrative leave. She currently has no police authority and is being investigated.
According to IMPD, Harris has been with the agency for eight years. She was most recently assigned to the Child Abuse Unit. The case Harris responded to was later shifted to another investigator.
IMPD did not immediately provide any more information. This article will be updated as more information is published.
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