Athens Officer Arrested for DUI

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities say an Athens-Clarke police officer was arrested on a DUI charge, the second such charge for a police officer in the department this year.

Senior Police Officer Thomas "Ty" Carrell was stopped for speeding on Atlanta Highway early Friday morning.

Police said the 36-year-old officer had slurred speech and refused to perform roadside sobriety tests, even after a supervisor arrived.

Carrell had been serving a three-day suspension for a previous departmental policy violation when he was arrested and will go from unpaid suspension to paid administrative leave while his arrest is being investigated, said Athens-Clarke human resources director Harry Owens.

Previously, Senior Police Officer Gregory Gilchrist pleaded guilty to DUI for a February 15 off-duty collision.

Authorities say he was allowed to keep his job.