A 23-year-old rookie San Diego police officer has been placed on administrative leave after being cited by Carlsbad police on suspicion of being drunk in public, officials said Monday.
The patrol officer, Christine Thurston, was at Hennessey's Tavern on Roosevelt Street, near Grand Avenue, Friday evening. About 10 p.m., a restaurant manager called police to report that someone was brandishing a weapon inside the tavern, said Carlsbad police spokeswoman Lynn Diamond.
When officers arrived, they found Thurston waiting outside with some bouncers. The weapon that had been in her purse was being held for police inside, Diamond said.
“Someone in the bar did take it away from her when the 911 call was made,” Diamond said. “The weapon had been taken away and she was outside with the bouncers awaiting our arrival.”
Officers determined that Thurston took her gun out of her purse at some point while inside the bar, but she did not display it in a threatening manner, Diamond said.
“The elements of brandishing a weapon were not felt to be met based on the interviews at the scene,” Diamond said. The weapon was removed from the purse, but never drawn, she said.
Thurston was taken by officers to Carlsbad police headquarters, where she was released to a family member about 1 a.m. Saturday. San Diego police officers were sent to Carlsbad to retrieve the officer's gun, which was issued to her by the department, Diamond said.
Thurston is scheduled to appear in Vista court on the misdemeanor charge.
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