Former Morganton Officer Arrested

34-year-old Jonathan Patrick Chapman, a former Morganton Public Safety Officer, has been arrested and charged with driving while impaired, misdemeanor child abuse, and a stoplight violation.

At about 7:10 p.m. on April 17, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol assisted Morganton Public Safety with a vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 64 (Burkemont Avenue) at the intersection with Interstate 40. A 2017 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Chapman was westbound on the I-40 exit ramp when the Chevy entered the intersection on a red light and struck two vehicles.

Neither Chapman nor a juvenile passenger in the vehicle sustained any injuries. The other drivers involved were not injured. According to a published report, the juvenile is Chapman’s child.

The initial investigation indicates impairment to be the contributing factor. According to the published report, Chapman blew a 0.17 on the Highway Patrol’s breathalyzer. Chapman will appear in District Court on June 26 in Morganton. He reportedly resigned from Morganton Public Safety on April 20.

Story: Ralph Mangum-WHKY