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By BRITTANY CHAIN, US SENIOR REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
Extraordinary footage has emerged of a police officer responding to an emergency call appearing ‘noticeably intoxicated.’
Ohio cop Michael Ervin was called to a Walbridge home on August 23 after the residents returned home from a night out and noticed their truck door was wide open.
They alerted police, fearing that an intruder could be inside the house, and Ervin arrived at the scene solo to investigate.
The couple, who asked not to be named, immediately noticed Ervin’s strange behavior.
They told 13 Action News he appeared to be ‘staggering and stumbling’ as he approached the home and was behaving oddly.
‘He was noticeably intoxicated,’ the couple said.
‘He appeared to be staggering and stumbling as he walked up to us. We called back to dispatch to express our concerns.’
Ohio cop Michael Ervin was called to a Walbridge home on August 23 after the residents returned home from a night out and noticed their truck door was wide open
Another officer administered a breathalyzer test on Ervin, and according to Walbridge Mayor Edward Kolanko, he was more than double the legal limit
Within minutes, additional units had arrived on the scene for backup.
Another officer administered a breathalyzer test on Ervin, and according to Walbridge Mayor Edward Kolanko, he was more than double the legal limit.
He registered a blood alcohol content reading of 0.168 percent.
In the shocking video, Ervin appears unsteady on his feet as he wanders aimlessly in the middle of the road.
‘Everything looks clear, nothing looks disturbed,’ the officer appears to say from the street.
When the additional police cruisers arrived, the woman said in the video ‘I’m not really sure what’s going on’, prompting the officer to admit: ‘Me neither.’
Mayor Kolanko said senior officers acted swiftly after the incident, instantly sending Ervin home and relieving him of his duties.
Just two days later, his position was terminated.
When additional police units arrived, Ervin was seen making his way to them
‘We highly value the public trust and recognize the importance and significance of this situation,’ Kolanko said.
‘We took swift action once this was recognized to terminate the employee and open an investigation. There is zero tolerance for this behavior, especially in a position where the community expects honesty, competence, and integrity.’
No charges have been laid, but an investigation is ongoing. Ervin could face charges for operating a vehicle while impaired and handling a firearm while intoxicated.
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