PANGUITCH — An officer
with the Utah Department of Public Safety has been arrested for allegedly
driving drunk in his unmarked patrol car while headed to a training session at
Lake Powell.
Jason James Whitehead, 35, of Ogden, who is also an officer with
the State Bureau of Investigation, is charged in Garfield County Justice Court
with DUI, a class B misdemeanor, and other charges.
On April 24, Whitehead was pulled over in his Dodge Charger on
U.S. 89 after police received reports of a "reckless car with a reckless
driver," according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 6th District
Court.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce said multiple witnesses
called police as Whitehead traveled through Iron and Garfield counties.
A UHP trooper pulled over Whitehead and detected a "strong
odor of alcohol" while speaking to him, the affidavit states.
The trooper then noticed an open bottle of vodka in the vehicle
that was half full, according to the warrant. After the trooper realized
Whitehead was a State Bureau of Investigation employee, the Garfield County
Sheriff's Office was called to take over the investigation.
Sheriff James Perkins responded to the scene himself and
observed that Whitehead "had slurred speech (and) red, glassy eyes, and
appeared to be under the influence of alcohol," the warrant states.
After failing a couple of field sobriety tests, Whitehead was
"very unsteady on his feet" and needed assistance getting into
Perkins' car, according to the affidavit.
Whitehead has been with the Utah Department of Public Safety for
more than four years. He has been placed on administrative leave. Royce said
Whitehead is currently assigned to the Major Crimes Unit. He was on his way to
train with the department's dive team when he was pulled over.
Whitehead has had no other major disciplinary action against him
during his time with the department, Royce said.
"I'm very disappointed when it's found that one of our own,
who has committed to protect, made a bad choice that could harm others. We were
fortunate in this incident that no one was hurt, and we have taken immediate
action to address this incident. This is a very rare occurrence that does not
represent the conduct of the nearly 1,600 men and women of the Utah Department
of Public Safety who have dedicated their careers to providing caring and
professional service," Commissioner Keith Squires said in a prepared
statement.
In addition to the DUI charge, Whitehead is also charged with
two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence, a class B
misdemeanor, and having an open container in his vehicle while on the highway,
a class C misdemeanor.
"Our client, like all our law enforcement clients, are
entitled to due process under the law like all Utahns and all American
citizens," attorney Bret Rawson, who works with the Fraternal Order of
Police and specializes in representing officers, said Wednesday.
Rawson said it was important to remember that Whitehead had
served Utah for 12 years.
Prior to being hired as a UHP trooper, Whitehead was a deputy
with the Tooele County Sheriff's Office. He suffered minor injuries in 2013
while investigating a crash on I-15 near 2500 South and another vehicle slid
into him while he was inside his car.
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