Difficulties continued to mount for Philadelphia police officer Darryl Cathey at 12:20 a.m. on Saturday, as he drove himself to 12th district headquarters following his shift. Arriving in a marked police cruiser, Cathey had apparently been driving on three flat tires, each of which also had a flattened rim, according to reporting from ABC6.
On the scene was a police sergeant who allegedly noticed an odor of alcohol on Cathey’s breath, as well as a bloodshot appearance to his eyes. The sergeant also took note of the officer’s unusual talkativeness, in the course of which Cathey stated that he was unaware of the flat tires on the cruiser. Soon after, the sergeant attempted to place Cathey into custody, an action which prompted a physical altercation between the men as well as other police officers attempting to intervene.
Cathey now faces a series of criminal charges, including DUI, simple and aggravated assault and reckless endangerment of another. The latter charge was the result of Cathey’s initial tussle with the supervisor on the scene. In addition, Cathey has received a 30-day suspension along with a notice of intended dismissal.
ABC 6 also reports that this is just the latest in a series of personal and professional problems experienced by Cathey. Back in 2011, at the age of 23, he faced an accusation that he had assaulted a former girlfriend and also committed a robbery. However, prosecutors ultimately dropped those charges due to the victim’s absence in court. Furthermore, Cathey was formally relieved of his duties as a police officer in early 2012, though intervention on his behalf by the Fraternal Order of Police resulted in his eventual reinstatement in February, 2014.
Drunk driving is a serious crime in Massachusetts. Penalties for drunk driving include loss of driver’s license, fines, probation, alcohol classes and possibly jail. If you have been charged with drunk driving contact Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer Patrick Donovan today for a free no obligation consultation.
