A video of a New Orleans police officer allegedly driving recklessly on an I-10 entrance ramp surfaced Wednesday. The officer's driving privileges have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.This amateur video shows a car assigned to 4th District NOPD Officer Brad Glaudi swerving and driving below the speed limit. Seconds later, it hits the guardrail while entering the interstate.
4th District Commander Heather Kouts is well aware of the footage. She said the incident is under investigation.
"The Public Integrity Bureau is handling an investigation into allegations that a 4th district vehicle was involved in some kind of accident or reckless operation up on the interstate on Sunday,” Kouts said.
NOPD Public Integrity Bureau Commander Arlinda Westbrook said the off-duty officer involved is Glaudi. She said Glaudi can’t remember anything from the day the video was apparently shot.
"It looked like a NASCAR event,” said Eyewitness News legal analyst Donald “Chick" Foret.
Foret watched the video and said the driver could potentially face criminal charges.
"It looks like the two possible offenses are the reckless operation of a vehicle and the possibility of hit and run, and that's being involved in an accident and not stopping,” Foret said.
However, Foret said proving whether or not Glaudi was impaired will be very difficult.
"There are folks who will look at the video and say whoever was driving this was quite possibly intoxicated,” Foret said. “Legally I just don't see how you can possibly prove a driving while intoxicated violation. It’s days after the accident, you have no blood tests, you have no intoxilyzer tests."
Commander Henry Dean with the Fraternal Order of Police said as of Wednesday afternoon, it had not been contacted by any of its members seeking legal representation.