Officer charged with DUI could face more charges

FREMONT – The Fremont police officer who was charged with drunken driving after a crash where he left the scene early Tuesday in the city could face additional charges, an official said.

The city has asked that a judge appoint a special prosecutor to handle the case against Officer George Dorsey and determine whether more charges should be filed, Fremont Law Director Jim Melle said.

Dorsey, the police department's K-9 handler, is on paid leave while the incident investigation is pending, Fremont Police Chief Tim Wiersma said.

Dorsey was off duty when he crashed his personal sport-utility vehicle into another vehicle at Moore Street and White Avenue and then left the scene, according to Fremont police reports. No one was hurt.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. Dorsey was charged with drunken driving and failure to yield at a stop sign, said Sgt. Mike Walter of the patrol's Fremont Post.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday in Fremont Municipal Court. He could not be reached, and his attorney, Terry Rudes of Port Clinton, declined to comment.

Judge Bob Hart has recused himself from the case. The Ohio Supreme Court will appoint a judge to take Hart's place, and that judge would then appoint the special prosecutor.

Fremont police also plan to complete an internal investigation into the incident after the patrol finishes its inquiry, Wiersma said.

Fremont police knew Dorsey's 2008 Ford Escape was involved in the crash because the bumper was left at the scene, according to Fremont police records. Dorsey called Fremont Police Capt. Jim White at 2:06 a.m. - 13 minutes after the crash was reported - and told him he had been involved.

"He said he was scared and drove off," White wrote in his witness statement.

White said Dorsey told him he was OK and that he was at home. White said he told Dorsey to stay at home and wait for the patrol and Emrich to arrive and to be honest and cooperate with state troopers, according to the statement.

Dorsey refused sobriety tests, Walter said.

Fremont Safety-Service Director Bob Ward put Dorsey on paid leave indefinitely on Tuesday.

"You are not to be on any city-owned property or make contact with city employees or anyone involved with the investigation of the incident that has occurred unless you are advised by myself or the chief to do so," Ward wrote in his letter to Dorsey.

The driver of the vehicle Dorsey hit, Justin Young, 33, Fremont, was also charged with drunken driving, Walter said. Young took a breath test, and his blood-alcohol content was 0.117, Walter said.

The legal limit is 0.08.

The crash happened at 1:53 a.m. when Dorsey was eastbound on Moore Street and ran a stop sign at the intersection of Moore Street and White Avenue, Walter said. His vehicle crashed into a 2011 Chrysler vehicle driven by Young, who was southbound on White Avenue.

"George has been a very valued member of the police department," Wiersma said. "Everyone at the department is upset this happened."

mksmith@gannett.com

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Twitter: @kristinasmithNM