Police commander charged with DUI

Monday, Nov. 27, 2000 | 10:39 a.m.

A Las Vegas police commander has been arrested on suspicion of crashing his car off the side of a road while intoxicated and then fleeing the scene.

Charles Davidaitis, 59, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center Sunday and later released after posting $2,200 bail on misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident.

Police spokesman Lt. Marc Joseph said Davidaitis was seen by witnesses leaving the road and crashing into a fire hydrant, light pole and a chain link fence in front of Tomiyasu Elementary School about 4:20 p.m.

Witnesses recorded Davidaitis' license plate number and description when he drove off from the scene, Joseph said.

The commander was found minutes later by police at his home not far from the crash site.

Davidaitis' position is the fourth highest in the Metropolitan Police Department and he shares responsibility over the Patrol Division with one other commander.

"This is very unfortunate when this happens," Joseph said. "But police officers are human, too."

Davidaitis declined comment.

Davidaitis, who has a law enforcement career spanning 30 years, will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal police investigation that will be independent of a criminal investigation.