Detective awaits results of probe after his DUI arrest

Karen Zekan

Friday, June 12, 1998 | 11:03 a.m.

A veteran Metro Police detective remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome on an internal investigation by the department into his recent drunken driving arrest.

Daniel Jacobson, 41, was behind the wheel of a Metro undercover car when arrested at 12:45 a.m. Saturday in the rear parking lot behind Carl's Jr., 4925 W. Tropicana Ave., near Rainbow Boulevard.

He was booked into Clark County Detention Center on driving under the influence. A records clerk at the facility said the DUI charge was labeled as a second offense.

Metro Police were requested to respond to the parking lot at 12:40 a.m. when an employee of the fast-food restaurant reported that a customer failed to pick up an order at the drive-thru window and instead drove past the pick-up point and parked in the rear lot, appearing to have passed out with the car lights on, according to the arrest report.

A responding officer arrived in the lot and found the car running, the car in drive, and the driver either passed out or asleep with his foot on the brake, the report stated.

Recognizing Jacobson as an officer he had seen on previous occasions around the department, the arresting officer asked Jacobson the whereabouts of his gun and was told it was in the car. According to the report, the arresting officer instead found the gun in Jacobson's waistband and smelled an odor of alcohol on the detective's breath.

After notifying his supervisors at Metro's southwest area command, the arresting officer proceeded with a field sobriety test at 1:19 a.m. during which Jacobson allegedly admitted having had five or six alcoholic beverages between 10 and 11:30 p.m.

Jacobson, a 19-year Metro veteran, refused to continue with the sobriety test and was taken into custody. A nurse drew a blood sample upon arriving at the detention center, the results of which are pending.

Jacobson was released from the detention center shortly before 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Metro authorities said any disciplinary actions are dependent upon the outcome of an investigation by the department's internal affairs bureau.