Cop crashes into own department and is charged with DUI

3/11/2008 5:24:10 PM


PARMA HEIGHTS -- A local police officer is charged with drunk driving, after crashing into his own department's building.
Parma Heights police Sgt. Jeff Krepina now finds himself on the other side of the law.

Krepina is patrolling the streets of Parma Heights at night, barely missing a beat, so to speak, since he was arrested for drunk driving.

"He is a good police officer. This is an isolated incident," Parma heights police Capt. Garry Lauter said of Krepina.

Court records indicate that at 5:30 a.m. Dec. 8, Krepina rammed the front of the police department's building with his truck.

The vehicle jumped the curb and headed toward the front doors.

The truck had to hit the building hard because witnesses say it sounded like slamming a door and they were on the inside.

Pieces of sandstone were knocked from the outside of the building.

Krepina's truck's bumper, grill and fender were smashed.

"It's unusual, sure, and I would say anyone here is probably surprised," Lauter said.

The interior of the building wasn't pretty either.

The crash report indicates that Krepina had a blood alcohol level of .15, nearly twice the .08 legal limit.

Krepina seemed lethargic at the scene of the accident, having thrown up inside the vehicle and on himself.

He was charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle and DUI.

When asked how much he had to drink Krepina said, "...too much."

The night before the accident, Krepina was working special duty at a sports bar called Knockouts.

Police records indicate he drank at least three shots after work and had been taking a sleep aid called Ambien.

Despite that, Krepina got behind the wheel of his truck and drove that half mile to the place he knew best...his own police department.