Glenn Puit
December 29, 2000 Friday FINAL EDITION
Copyright 2000 DR Partners d/b Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV)
December 29, 2000 Friday FINAL EDITION
(LAS VEGAS) --
A former Las Vegas police commander suspected of driving under the influence was formally charged Thursday.
Clark County Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson said Charles Davidaitis is charged with two misdemeanors _ driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.
‘This case is a little more serious than your average driving under the influence because it did involve a collision,’ Nelson said. ‘More significantly, instead of remaining at the scene, he left afterwards.’
Nelson said Davidaitis’ status as a retired police commander will not play a role in prosecutors’ approach to the case.
‘He will be treated like anyone else,’ said the prosecutor of vehicular crimes cases.
On Nov. 27, police claim Davidaitis ran his truck off a road near Annie Oakley Drive and Rawhide Street and crashed into a light pole, fire hydrant and chain-link fence before fleeing the scene and driving home.
Davidaitis then asked his wife to take the blame for the accident, threatened to harm himself, and refused to cooperate with officers when they arrived at his home, according to a police report.
His blood-alcohol content was found to be twice the legal limit for driving, the report said.
Nelson said felony charges don’t apply in the case because no one was seriously injured or killed.
Davidaitis, a veteran of the police force for more than two decades, announced his retirement shortly after the crash.
An arraignment on the charges is scheduled for Feb. 26 in Las Vegas Justice Court.