LACSD Deputy Arrested on Charges of DUI While on the Job

ABC News reports that a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on the charge of DUI after crashing his patrol car and fleeing the scene on Friday night.

Officials say the crash happened on Friday night on Southern Oaks Drive near Picon Canyon Road. Photos taken from the crash scene show the deputy’s abandoned patrol cruiser off the road and crashed into trees and vegetation. That the deputy was nowhere in sight prompted a search of the area.

Fellow LACSD deputies found Carlos Lopez of the Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau approximately one mile away at his residence. Deputy Lopez had apparently suffered blunt force trauma in the crash. 

Helicopter footage from ABC’s AIR7 HD showed the 50-year-old deputy being taken from his residence on a gurney and taken by ambulance to Henry Mayo Hospital for treatment. Later reports indicated that Lopez had not suffered significant injury but did reveal that Lopez had been under the influence of alcohol while on duty and at the time of the crash.

On Saturday, August 27, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department released the following statement:

“The deputy has been relieved of duty, and due to the active investigation, we are unable to comment further.”

In a Tweet, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said that he had been notified of the incident involving the deputy and that the LACSD is “taking the matter seriously and will ensure that the matter is properly investigated. “

Related Frequently Asked Questions