Toledo cop charged with drunk driving

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By Lisa Rantala - bio | email

Posted by Kate Oatis - email

TOLEDO (WTOL) - Another Toledo police officer has been charged with drunk driving.

Police say 12-year veteran Donald Mitchell got through roll call over the weekend and spent just 10 minutes in his patrol car before getting called back.

According to his sergeant, Mitchell was unsteady on his feet, unable to walk in a straight line and had glassy and bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.

Mitchell was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

"Here in Toledo, we have extreme conditions with working with low manpower, an increase in violent crime and these officers are going to critical incidents on a higher rate than normal. They're seeing more things that citizens don't see in their normal lives," said Dan Wagner, Toledo Police Patrolmen Assn. president. "When we see that, we address it and get them in the proper treatment. We have two that slipped passed us and we're trying to deal with those today."

Alcoholism is a disease he says Officer James Brier is also dealing with. Brier was arrested for driving his patrol vehicle drunk last month. He's now on restricted duty with the department.

Brier's case continues in court next week.

Mitchell is currently off the payroll, which means he does not have to participate in the internal investigation.

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