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Police: CHP officer arrested for DUI, kneeing cop

A California Highway Patrol officer was booked into the Shasta County jail on suspicion of DUI and obstructing a public officer

By Ryan Sabalow
Redding Record-Searchlight

REDDING, Calif. — A California Highway Patrol officer was arrested 21Ú2 weeks ago on suspicion of drunken driving and resisting arrest after crashing her personal SUV and kneeing an officer who attempted to arrest her, police say.

Redding Police Sgt. Casey Bokavich said Tuesday that Doreen Shaw, 42, of Redding caused a four-car wreck about 11:05 p.m. Jan. 14 while driving a 2007 GMC Envoy westbound on South Bonnyview Road at Highway 273.

“During the investigation, Shaw was found to be at fault for the collision,” Bokavich said.

At least one person in one of the other vehicles complained of pain after the wreck, Bokavich said.

Officers tested Shaw for being under the influence of alcohol and when they attempted to arrest her, she became “physically uncooperative and she struck one of the officers with her knee,” Bokavich said.

Bokavich declined to say what her blood-alcohol level was, citing the ongoing investigation.

She was booked into the Shasta County jail on suspicion of DUI and obstructing a public officer, a jail watch commander said. She was released on her own recognizance without posting $2,500 bail.

Redding CHP Lt. Julie Horstman declined to comment and referred inquiries to Redding police. Shaw reportedly worked at the CHP’s Cottonwood truck inspection facility.

A spokeswoman for the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office said charges haven’t yet been filed, since the case remains under investigation.

A March 16 court date has been tentatively set for Shaw’s arraignment.

Bokavich said Redding police have been handling the case since it occurred in the city’s jurisdiction. Bokavich said investigators have been “completely independent and objective.”

He said officers didn’t release information soon after the wreck due to the ongoing investigation.

“You could end up jeopardizing cases by speaking about them too early,” he said. “There’s no trying to hide something or anything like that.”

Copyright 2012 Redding Record-Searchlight

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