DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. - A Colorado State Trooper faces drunk driving charges after witnesses reported him driving erratically in a State Patrol car Monday morning.
David Dolan, a 21-year veteran of the Colorado State Patrol, was booked on charges of DUI and prohibited use of weapons.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says it received numerous calls before 7 a.m. regarding a State Patrol car that was being driven erratically on Interstate 25 in Castle Rock.
Douglas County sheriff's deputies eventually found Dolan driving on westbound C470 at Santa Fe, and pulled him over near C470 and Platte Canyon at about 7:05 a.m., authorities said.
"After contacting the driver, who was confirmed to be a Colorado State Trooper in full uniform, he was taken into custody for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol," Douglas County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Coacha Heyden said.
The prohibited use of a weapon charge is related to Dolan carrying his service weapon.
"I'm devastated as a chief of an organization to stand in front of you with images seeing a member of our organization escorted with handcuffs into a car," said CSP Col. James Wolfinbarger at an afternoon press conference
Wolfinbarger also thanked members of the public who called 911 to report the erratic driving.
"That helped keep a very bad situation from turning tragic," he said.
According to the CSP website, Dolan is a recruiter who has been recognized for his work in both DUI enforcement and criminal interdiction.
Dolan, who was assigned to the Selections Unit based in Colorado Springs, has been placed on unpaid administrative leave.
