Police: Beech Grove officer arrested for OWI
JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — A Beech Grove police officer is behind bars after Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies arrested her for driving while intoxicated on Sunday evening. Monday afternoon, the Beech Grove Police Department released a statement.
According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department police report, Jill Liter was sitting in her vehicle around 10 p.m. in the 6100 block of West Smith Valley Road and appeared to be intoxicated.
Police say the vehicle was running when they arrived and Liter was sitting in the driver’s seat with the door open. According to the clerk at the gas station, Liter appeared to be intoxicated and had trouble walking into the store. The clerk also noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from Liter.
Liter told police that she had a few beers with friends. However, she refused to submit to a filed sobriety test. She also told police that she was a police officer with the Beech Grove Police Department, the report said.
According to police, Liter became abusive when officers would not release her. When police attempted to put her in handcuffs she began to walk away from officers.
Once in custody Liter continued to be abusive and demanded that officers call her supervisor or let her call him.
According to the police report, the jail staff was notified that Liter was a police officer and to make arrangements to keep her separate from other inmates.
A search warrant was filed to have Liter’s blood drawn for a toxicology test.
Police also obtained surveillance video of Liter’s vehicle driving through the parking lot before stopping where police later located her.
Liter was booked in the Johnson County Jail on preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated. Official charges were pending Monday morning.
In a statement Monday, Beech Grove Police Department officials said Liter was put on administrative leave. The statement went on to say:
Officer Liter has an exemplary police record and is an asset to the police department. It should be noted that she was in her personal vehicle and off duty at the time of her arrest. This is also an isolated incident involving one of our officers and not indicative of the behavior and high standards we have for our officers. We do not condone Officer Liter’s actions but need to let the judicial process proceed. We will have no further comment as this time.