A Texarkana Arkansas Police Department lieutenant was arrested March 21 on a DWI charge on the Texarkana, Texas, side of town.
Arkansas-side Lt. Scott Megason was arrested after he drew attention to himself striking a street sign on Texas Boulevard at 11:20 p.m. March 20, said Texarkana Texas Police Department spokesman Shawn Vaughn.
"An officer was sitting in a parking lot on New Boston Road when he observed a vehicle traveling north on Texas Boulevard. The vehicle came past New Boston Road where he was sitting and he (officer) heard a crash," Vaughn said.
"The officer observed a vehicle on Texas Boulevard continuing north with a street sign on the vehicle's hood," Vaughn said.
The vehicle was a 2012 Chrysler 300 which continued for a few blocks - to the 2400 block of Texas Boulevard - before the Texas-side police officer reached the scene, Vaughn said.
"The windshield of the vehicle was broken out from the impact of the sign and there was damage to the front bumper," Vaughn said. "The sign fell from the vehicle's hood and was lying in the middle of the street."
The officer "determined the driver appeared to be under the influence and they conducted a field sobriety test at the scene and ultimately arrested Scott Megason for driving while intoxicated," Vaughn said.
Texarkana Arkansas Police Chief Robert H. Harrison confirmed this morning that a TAPD employee was arrested by TTPD for suspected DWI.
"TAPD confirms a TAPD employee was arrested for suspected DWI on Saturday, March 21 by TTPD. This is a personnel issue and the case has not been adjudicated in court," Harrison said. The employee is undergoing mental and behavioral counseling related to alcohol. Regardless of the judicial outcomes the officer will receive disciplinary actions commensurate to the final disposition of the court."
The employee, Harrison said, is a lieutenant whom he declined to name.
The accident happened Friday night, but the arrest wasn't made until after midnight.
Vaughn declined to say if a Breathalyzer test was conducted for Megason and if so its results.
Megason was released from jail early March 21 on a $3,000 recognizance bond, Vaughn said.