Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Officer Max Etienne Accused of Hit and Run

ALBANY

An Albany police officer suspected of losing his department-issued handgun during the city's LarkFest in September is now accused of crashing his personal vehicle into three parked cars and leaving the scene on Sunday.

The off-duty cop, Max Etienne, 37, was driving a Chevy sport utility vehicle when it struck a Honda sedan, a Chrysler and an Acura on Colatosti Place, said Detective James Miller, a police spokesman.

Officers were notified about 10 a.m., Miller said. No injuries were reported.

Chief James W. Tuffey declined to discuss the matter further Tuesday evening, citing department policy regarding personnel issues.

"We're doing an internal investigation now," he said. "We don't comment on internal investigations."

Miller said Etienne was issued two tickets, one for failing to keep right, another for leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

Etienne, who has not been suspended or put on leave, was identified in September as the officer suspected of losing his semiautomatic service pistol while off duty at the LarkFest event on Sept. 20.

The weapon was said to have been dropped in front of Justin's restaurant on Lark Street. Detectives determined it was his pistol, according to two people familiar with the incident.

Police never publicly identified Etienne as the officer who lost the gun. It couldn't determined where that case may stand.

The crash happened in the early morning hours Sunday. The officer then went to his home in a nearby apartment complex. Police later determined he was the driver and he was ticketed, authorities said.

While he is on active duty, the department's Internal Affairs investigators are probing the crash.

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