In an incident early Saturday morning, a Cleveland police officer was taken into custody on suspicion of operating a vehicle while impaired. The arrest occurred after his vehicle struck a Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department cruiser almost head-on, as reported by FOX8. The sheriff's sergeant inside the cruiser, who was working part-time at a construction job, was unharmed even though his vehicle was immobilized in the collision.
Following the crash, which took place at the intersection of Lakewood Heights Boulevard and Alger Road, Cuyahoga County Press Secretary Jennifer Ciaccia confirmed that the sergeant had activated both front and rear overhead lights, a detail confirmed by WKYC. The officer involved, identified as Brian Brunner, has been with the Cleveland Police since 2018 and is assigned to the 5th District.
As is typical under such circumstances, Brunner has been placed on restricted duty pending the case's outcome, as stated by Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz to News 5 Cleveland. The Cleveland Police Division's Inspections Unit will also be monitoring the issue, ensuring adherence to standard procedure and compliance with the collective bargaining agreement in place.
This event marks the second time in a week that a Cleveland police officer has been arrested under suspicion of OVI. Earlier, another member of the force was apprehended after driving into a pizza shop in North Olmsted. "In accordance with standard procedure and in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement, Officer Brian Brunner has been placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of the case," Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz told WKYC, reporting the department's swift action following the incident. No injuries were reported in the recent crash involving Brunner, poised to face the Cleveland Municipal Court soon.
