UPPER DARBY — A 42-year-old
Philadelphia police officer has been placed on desk duty after he was allegedly
involved in an off-duty drunken driving incident that resulted in a head-on
crash on State Road on Sept. 15.
Levaun J. Rudisill, 42, allegedly told the arresting officer he had “a few beers” at the Eagles game prior to getting behind the wheel of his Dodge Ram pickup and veering into oncoming traffic, striking another vehicle head on, police said.
Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said the information he’s received is that Rudisill is an officer with Philadelphia’s Narcotics Squad and was off-duty at the time of the crash.
Philadelphia police would not name the officer, as he has been issued a summons and has not yet been arraigned, but did say they are aware of the incident and are taking appropriate action.
“The officer was not officially arrested, he was informed he was required to surrender to Upper Darby police regarding the accident and DUI investigation,” Philadelphia Police Public Affairs Officer Tanya Little said Thursday afternoon. “Based on that information, the officer has been placed on desk duty until the outcome of the investigation is completed by Upper Darby.”
“It is also being monitored here by us by Internal Affairs,” she added.
The crash occurred at about 8:30 p.m. at State Road and Park Avenue, police said.
Investigators determined that Rudisill’s pickup crossed the center double line and struck a 2006 Chrysler 300 sedan head on, according to Chitwood. The off-duty officer appears to have attempted to swerve, but was unable to avoid striking the other vehicle, police said.
The operator of the Chrysler, an 18-year-old male, was transported to Delaware County Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for injuries sustained in the crash and later released.
While speaking with Rudisill, the responding officer detected a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, police said. When asked if he’d been drinking, Rudisill allegedly responded by saying he’d had a few beers at the Eagles game.
“He was asked to submit to a field sobriety test, which he did and which he flunked,” Chitwood said.
Rudisill was taken into custody and transported to Delaware County Memorial Hospital for chemical testing, which he allegedly refused. He was later released to his fiancee. That is customary unless there are extenuating circumstances, Chitwood said.
Rudisill is facing charges of driving under the influence, careless driving and failure to keep on the right side of the highway. He is scheduled to appear in Upper Darby District Court before Magisterial District Judge Ann Berardocco on Oct. 30.
Levaun J. Rudisill, 42, allegedly told the arresting officer he had “a few beers” at the Eagles game prior to getting behind the wheel of his Dodge Ram pickup and veering into oncoming traffic, striking another vehicle head on, police said.
Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said the information he’s received is that Rudisill is an officer with Philadelphia’s Narcotics Squad and was off-duty at the time of the crash.
Philadelphia police would not name the officer, as he has been issued a summons and has not yet been arraigned, but did say they are aware of the incident and are taking appropriate action.
“The officer was not officially arrested, he was informed he was required to surrender to Upper Darby police regarding the accident and DUI investigation,” Philadelphia Police Public Affairs Officer Tanya Little said Thursday afternoon. “Based on that information, the officer has been placed on desk duty until the outcome of the investigation is completed by Upper Darby.”
“It is also being monitored here by us by Internal Affairs,” she added.
The crash occurred at about 8:30 p.m. at State Road and Park Avenue, police said.
Investigators determined that Rudisill’s pickup crossed the center double line and struck a 2006 Chrysler 300 sedan head on, according to Chitwood. The off-duty officer appears to have attempted to swerve, but was unable to avoid striking the other vehicle, police said.
The operator of the Chrysler, an 18-year-old male, was transported to Delaware County Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for injuries sustained in the crash and later released.
While speaking with Rudisill, the responding officer detected a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, police said. When asked if he’d been drinking, Rudisill allegedly responded by saying he’d had a few beers at the Eagles game.
“He was asked to submit to a field sobriety test, which he did and which he flunked,” Chitwood said.
Rudisill was taken into custody and transported to Delaware County Memorial Hospital for chemical testing, which he allegedly refused. He was later released to his fiancee. That is customary unless there are extenuating circumstances, Chitwood said.
Rudisill is facing charges of driving under the influence, careless driving and failure to keep on the right side of the highway. He is scheduled to appear in Upper Darby District Court before Magisterial District Judge Ann Berardocco on Oct. 30.
