Piqua police has released body camera of officers responding to an OVI crash involving an off-duty Miami County Sheriff’s deputy.
Chase Underwood, 34, was arraigned in Miami County Municipal Court this morning.
He pleaded not guilty to OVI, according to court records.
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On August 10, officers arrested Underwood at Rally’s on North College Street after hitting a car in front of him in the restaurant drive-thru, according to a Piqua police incident report.
Officers responded around 11:30 p.m. after receiving a report of an intoxicated man on a motorcycle hitting another vehicle.
Underwood was reportedly pushing the motorcycle into a handicapped parking spot when officers arrived.
They asked Underwood what was going on and he responded “that he was getting some food and then would be headed home,” according to the report. When asked if he had been drinking that night, he said, “I’m going to walk home.”
Underwood was reportedly slurring and officers could smell alcohol on him.
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As officers continued to question him, Underwood would remain silent or say “I’m walking him,” the report stated.
When asked if he agreed that he should not have been driving, Underwood “shrugged his shoulders and shook his head ‘yes’ in agreement,” the report said.
When officers gave him a field sobriety test, they said Underwood swayed back and forth. He reportedly failed the test.
In surveillance video of the Rally's drive-through, Underwood is seen struggling to keep his balance while on the motorcycle, according to the report.
At one point he reportedly looks like he began to pass out and leaned forward, resulting in him twisting the throttle and hitting the car in front of him, which did not appear to have any damage.
Underwood was placed under arrest and taken to the police department before being released to a sober driver.
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On Monday, Underwood was placed on unpaid administrative leave, according to the Miami County Sheriff’s Office.
His license was reportedly suspended, making him unable to meet the minimum requirements to fulfill his duties as deputy.
An administrative investigation will follow once the court case is completed, according to the sheriff’s office.
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Underwood has worked in law enforcement for 10 years, according to personnel files. He has been with the Miami County Sheriff’s Office for five years and previously working for the West Milton and Covington police departments.
In July, Underwood was selected to be a school resource officer, according to personnel files.
Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak commended the Piqua Police Department for their professionalism in handling the case.