GALION — An officer with the Galion Police Department is under investigation following a crash involving alcohol.
GPD officer Austin Chaplin was placed on paid administrative leave Nov. 10 after being charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, according to Galion Police Chief Brian Saterfield.
According to a report by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Chaplin was traveling westbound on Tracht Drive when he approached a curve onto Kline Road early the morning of Nov. 10 when he failed to maneuver the curve and traveled into a yard in the 900 block of Kline Road.
Chaplin’s vehicle struck branches and a light pole before coming to a stop.
Chaplin was administered an alcohol breath test, where he submitted a sample that registered a .103 blood-alcohol content. The legal BAC for an individual 21 years old and older is .08.
He appeared in Crawford County Municipal Court on Nov. 14 for a first-degree misdemeanor charge for OVI and a minor misdemeanor for failure to control.
“The City Administration and I continue to monitor the situation and will make a determination of his work status as appropriate,” Saterfield said.
Chaplin was off duty and in his personally owned vehicle at the time of the crash.