COLUMBIA — A Columbia patrol officer was arrested early Tuesday morning on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Officer Ted Anderson, 47, has been with the Columbia Police Department as a day patrol officer for 18½ years. Anderson was arrested at 1:56 a.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of North Eighth Street and North Boulevard when he failed to keep his car in one lane, Public Information Officer Jessie Haden said.
Haden said Anderson is the first officer this year to be arrested in an alcohol-related incident.
According to Haden, Anderson has been placed on administrative leave with pay. The leave will last until after the investigation is complete and Columbia Police Chief Burton renders his final decision, she said.
Haden said the investigation is not expected to take long, and it is "equal" to the investigation of citizens arrested on suspicion of DWI.
On Wednesday morning, Haden said she did not know whether Anderson refused a breathalyzer test, stating, "(I) didn't read the report, so I could honestly say I don't know."