WILTON – A Franklin County sheriff’s deputy was placed on paid administrative leave after he was arrested Friday night and charged with operating under the influence.
According to Sheriff Dennis Pike, Deputy Christopher M. Chase, 34, of Wilton was stopped for a suspected traffic violation, namely speeding, on the Old Route 2 in East Wilton by Wilton Police Officer Joshua King. After talking with Chase, King placed him under arrest with a charge of OUI.
At the time of the traffic stop Chase was off-duty and on vacation, Pike said. He was released Saturday morning on $3,000 unsecured bail.
Chase has been with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department for three years and is one of three deputies with the department who work with trained police dogs, Pike said. Chase got his law enforcement start with the Farmington Police Department and then was hired to serve as a deputy for the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department. While there, he was shot in the chest when responding to a domestic violence complaint. A protective vest is believed to have saved his life.
Sheriff Pike said Chase will remain on leave pending the court’s resolution of the case.
“This is a very unfortunate incident,” Pike said.
