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11 months ago
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An off-duty Washington DC police officer has been arrested after leading Virginia state troopers on a 120mph car chase, which only ended when he smashed into another car and spun in the road.
Peter McCauley, 25, was seen driving his Tesla, with a 28-year-old female passenger, at 95mph in a 55mph zone late on Wednesday night.
Troopers attempted to pull him over, but McCauley sped away, heading south on the Interstate 395.
McCauley, who joined the Metropolitan Police in 2020, took an exit ramp in Alexandria to try and flee the troopers, reaching speeds of 119mph.
He ran a red light, and smashed into a Honda, causing both cars to spin.
The moment of impact is captured on surveillance cameras as the Tesla runs a red light and smashed into a Honda at the intersection
The Tesla begins to spin, and the Honda is forced off the road
Tonight at 11 after the #UGAvsGT game, @7NewsDC is On Your Side pressing MPD for disciplinary policies after a 2nd officer is arrested in 2 weeks. This 2nd arrest comes after Virginia State Police said an off-duty officer led them on a high-speed chase, ending in a crash: pic.twitter.com/eK1qALEsjb
— Christian Flores (@CFloresNews) November 26, 2023Peter McCauley, 25, is seen in the early hours of Thanksgiving, having been arrested for the off-duty high-speed chase
The 22-year-old driver of the Honda suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital, as was McCauley's passenger.
McCauley was arrested in the early hours of Thanksgiving, and has been relieved of his policing powers.
'On Thursday, November 23, 2023, the Metropolitan Police Department was notified by the Virginia State Police that they arrested Officer Peter McCauley after he was involved in a traffic accident causing injury,' the force said.
'McCauley was off-duty and in a personally-owned vehicle at the time of the crash.'
They said that McCauley is now under investigation.
'MPD's Internal Affairs Division responded and immediately revoked the officer's police powers and placed him on non-contact status,' they said.
'The incident is under investigation by MPD's Internal Affairs Division.'
The Tesla is pictured spinning wildly, with its headlights pointing over the bridge
The Tesla is seen on the bridge, spun the wrong direction with its lights pointing the wrong way
They confirmed that he joined the force in June 2020.
McCauley's arrest came less than two weeks after another officer was arrested for DUI and resisting arrest.
John Bewley was arrested on November 11, having shown up at the scene of a DUI investigation involving his girlfriend
Bewley was off-duty at the time, but drove to the scene in a patrol car.
Bewley tried to get his girlfriend to leave the scene with him, but police smelled alcohol on Bewley's breath and arrested him too.
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