McALESTER
McAlester police Sgt. Chris Morris was arrested Saturday night on an initial complaint of driving under the influence, Police Chief Jim Lyles said.
"He is suspended with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation,” Lyles said.
Morris is president of Lodge 97 of the Fraternal Order of Police and is the current officer of the year.
He had been off-duty at the time of his arrest, according to the police chief. Lyles said McAlester police responded the same way that they would have in any case, regardless of who was involved.
Police received information of Morris possibly becoming intoxicated during a celebration at the Elks Lodge in McAlester, he said.
"It was reported to the department that he possibly was becoming intoxicated,” Lyles said. "There was a concern that if he left there driving, he would possibly be DUI.”
The chief said he was told that Morris, who is a singer, had performed at the event.
He said police stopped Morris after he ran two stops signs, including a stop sign at Elks Road and U.S. 69.
Master Patrolman Greg Read made the arrest, with assistance from Sgt. Windell Henry, Lyles said.
Following the arrest, police took Morris to the city police department, he said.
The chief said the city jail was filled at the time and he did not want Morris held in the county jail for obvious reasons — meaning the jail holds people arrested by McAlester police.
Morris was held in an administrative room at the police department under Capt. Shawn Smith's supervision, according to Lyles.
Police later took Morris to the Pittsburg County jail, where he was booked and released on his own recognizance, Lyles said.
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