HALIFAX -
A Halifax Regional Police officer is facing criminal charges after he was involved in a crash with his police cruiser on the weekend.
Officers responded to the single-vehicle crash in the area of Magazine Hill and Dartmouth Road just before 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
Police say the responding officer identified the driver as an off-duty police officer and noted signs of impairment.
"It also turned out that the vehicle that was being operated at the time was a police vehicle," confirms Halifax Regional Police spokesman Const. Brian Palmeter.
Sgt. Kevin Tellenbach, a member of the force for 29 years, was arrested without incident.
The 52-year-old is due to appear in provincial court on January 31 to face charges of impaired driving and having a blood alcohol level that exceeds the legal limit.
The Halifax chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving wouldn't comment on this particular case, but the president says it is easier for some people to slide into drinking and driving at this time of year.
"It's easy to get caught up, to get lost in the celebration," says Annissa Aldridge, the president of MADD Halifax. "We're just reminding people not to be driving while drinking, and to make other arrangements."
Tellenbach has been suspended pending the outcome of the court case.
