A Los Angeles Police Department officer who previously warned of the dangers of drunk driving has been charged with a felony charge of driving under the influence after a crash that left at least one person seriously injured.
Matthew Ensley reportedly had a blood alcohol level of 0.20, more than twice the legal limit, when he was arrested by California Highway Patrol (CHP) Sunday night.
Ensley was off-duty when he allegedly rear-ended another vehicle on Highway 605 in Santa Fe Springs just before 10:30 p.m.
Two people were injured, CHP Officer Bob Wittenberg said. Los Angeles Times One person complained of a headache, and the other had a broken arm.
It remains unclear whether Mr. Ensley was relieved of his duties following his arrest.
A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told the newspaper that Ensley was arrested and most recently worked in the traffic unit.
The newspaper reached out to Ensley, the CHP and the Los Angeles Police Department for comment.
The veteran Los Angeles Police Department officer, who joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 2004, appeared in Bellflower court before Judge Warren Cato to discuss his next court date with the embattled officers.
Ensley’s attorney, Bill Seki, sought to reduce his client’s bail by $100,000, citing Ensley’s nearly 20 years of service and “community ties.”
“Mr. Ensley has never been involved in anything like this before,” Seki said.
Mr. Kato refused to reduce his pay, telling the court that while he understood Mr. Ensley was a “respected member of the community,” he “could not make an exception” because of his status as a public official.
After joining the police force in 2004, Ensley earned a reputation as a hard-working officer.
In a December 2022 post on X by a now-deleted account, Ensley slammed drunk drivers and implored them to “call a friend or use a rideshare service after drinking.” It seems like it is.
The tweet resurfaced online after Ensley’s arrest.
