A Catawba County Sheriff’s Deputy has been fired after he was charged with driving while impaired and crashing a patrol car Thursday morning while off duty.
49-year old Deputy Michael T. Watkins, is charged with driving while impaired pending the results of a blood test, according to a spokesperson from the North Carolina Highway Patrol. He was terminated following the incident, according to a release from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.
Thursday, around 2 a.m., the Highway Patrol was asked by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office to investigate a single-vehicle collision on Radio Station Road near Long Drive in Newton.
Troopers arrived found a damaged Catawba County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. It was being driven by Watkins who was off duty.
“This conduct has not and will not be tolerated in my administration,” Sheriff Don Brown said in the release. “We have taken swift action in this matter. My office will continue to operate with the highest level of integrity and accountability to our citizens.”
The highway patrol is still investigating.