PORTLAND, Oregon - A Portland police officer has been placed on paid leave after he was indicted on charges of DUI, attempting to elude police and reckless endangerment.
Sean Sothern was off duty at the time of his August 18 arrest in Pacific City. The 11-year department veteran posted bail and had recently been assigned to the police telephone reporting unit. Lt. Robert King said Sothern was put on leave Friday, following his indictment Thursday.
The indictment stems from an incident that occurred on August 18, 2011, when Officer Sothern was off-duty and was arrested by the Tillamook County Sheriff's Office and charged with DUII, Attempting to Elude in a Vehicle, and two counts of Reckless Endangerment. At the time, Sothern was booked into the Tillamook County Jail and was later released after posting bail. Officer Sothern is an 11-year-veteran and was assigned to Central Precinct at the time of his arrest. Since then, he has been assigned to an off-street assignment in the Telephone Report Unit. Because there is an ongoing criminal investigation as well as an internal PPB investigation, the Police Bureau will not be commenting further on this case until resolution.
Arraignment is set Monday in Tillamook County Circuit Court. Sothern's lawyer James McIntyre, said that the officer will plead not guilty.
