A Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department officer is off the streets after being arrested Wednesday in Locust and charged with driving while impaired, according to officials. The officer, identified as Dylan Auch, was taken into custody by the Locust Police Department while off duty and was also cited for an expired registration. CMPD’s Internal Affairs Division has opened an investigation and placed Auch on unpaid administrative leave.
Details from a department news release were reported by WSOC TV, which noted the arrest occurred in Stanly County and listed the charges. The station also reported that the same release outlined the administrative steps taken by CMPD.
"Officer Auch’s arrest is a serious matter, and our community deserves clear accountability," Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson said in a written statement. "I expect every member of the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department to uphold the highest professional and ethical standards, both on and off duty." The full statement was published by WSOC TV.
CMPD’s handling of off‑duty arrests
CMPD has a familiar playbook when one of its own is arrested off the clock. Such cases are typically routed to Internal Affairs, and the officers involved are placed on unpaid administrative leave while the department reviews what happened.
In April 2025 the department announced that an officer arrested in York County faced DUI charges and said Internal Affairs would investigate while the officer remained on unpaid administrative leave, according to a department news release from the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department.
Legal process and possible penalties
In North Carolina, a DWI charge sets off two tracks. There is the criminal case handled in court, and there is separate administrative action at the DMV under the state’s implied‑consent rules. That administrative side can include an initial 30‑day civil revocation in certain cases.
The DMV process is distinct from any criminal charges and follows its own timeline and procedures, which can be challenged through hearings laid out in state law. The legal framework is detailed in the state’s vehicle code in the N.C. General Statutes, Chapter 20.
What happens next
Because the arrest happened in Locust, any criminal case tied to the DWI charge will move through Stanly County’s court system, with the Locust Police Department listed as the arresting agency. On a separate track, CMPD’s Internal Affairs Division will continue its administrative review, which can lead to discipline regardless of how the criminal case ends.
The timetable for hearings and other key developments will be reflected in court filings, arrest records and future departmental statements. Local contact information for detention and court matters is maintained by the Stanly County Sheriff's Office.
This account is based on the initial release and on early reporting. The story will be updated as new court documents and official statements are made public.
