Local deputies arrested a state police officer early Tuesday morning after he was pulled over for speeding in White River Township.
Marcus Tow, 37, of Martinsville, was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Just after midnight Tuesday, a sheriff’s deputy was on routine patrol in White River Township when he observed an SUV speeding and crossing the center line, so he stopped the vehicle, according to a Johnson County Sheriff’s Office news release.
While speaking with Tow regarding the traffic violations, the deputy noticed an alcohol odor. Tow, who was off duty at the time, failed field sobriety tests and was offered the opportunity to submit to a certified chemical test, but he refused, according to the news release.
A search warrant was obtained and a blood sample was collected from Tow to be analyzed for blood alcohol content. Those results from the Indiana Department of Toxicology are pending, the news release said.
Tow mentioned to the deputy he worked for the Indiana State Police, which confirmed he is an employee. Tow has been a state police officer since 2011.
The department suspended Tow’s police powers and put him on administrative status, which means he will work in an office setting until the criminal investigation is completed. Then, state police will conduct an internal review to determine if further disciplinary action is warranted, spokesperson John Perrine said.
Tow was taken to the Johnson County jail where he is held on $250 cash bond, which is standard, according to the news release.
All paperwork was forwarded to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office for review, and Prosecutor Joe Villanueva has been briefed on the case, Sheriff Duane Burgess said.
