A reserve police officer from a St. Louis, Mo. suburb claims the stress of volunteering for the Ferguson Police Department led to his weekend arrest for suspicion of drunk driving.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Ann reserve officer Jacob Klaus crashed his vehicle into a St. Louis County home on Saturday evening. St. Louis County Police Department Sgt. Brian Schellman told the Post-Dispatch that Klaus declined a breath test.
Furthermore, St. Ann Police Chief Aaron Jimenez noted that Klaus had been drinking at a bar while off-duty prior to the crash. Jimenez added that Klaus was overwhelmed after taking up shifts with the Ferguson's embattled police department:
Jimenez said Klaus was apologetic and said he started drinking after spending time volunteering with the department for shifts in Ferguson.
He felt it was a lot of pressure on his life, a lot of negativity, Jimenez said.
The chief said he believed the officer’s claim that he started drinking after Ferguson.
That’s what he said, and we had zero problem with him before, Jimenez said. He was not a drinker and had no substance abuse when he took the lie detector test before being hired.
The Post-Dispatch reports that Klaus, who hadn't been charged as of yesterday, will probably escape with a slap on the wrist due to this being his first offense.
[via St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
