A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper arrested a Harlingen police sergeant for Texas DWI over the Memorial Day weekend. Sgt. Michael Bradley Fechner reportedly ran a red light early Saturday morning. The investigating trooper said that Fechner’s speech and balance appeared ok but he had a very strong odor of alcohol and glossy eyes.
Fechner refused to submit to a breath test for blood alcohol content. He failed several field sobriety tests, including walking and turning, standing on one leg and the horizontal gaze nystagmus.
Fechner was booked on charges of driving while intoxicated in Texas. He appeared before a Cameron County judge on Saturday, and bond was set at $2,500. It is the officers first alcohol related driving offense.
Fechner, 38, remains on duty pending an investigation by the police department. If convicted of DWI in Texas, he could have his driver’s license suspended, be fined $2,000, spend up to six months in jail and lose his peace officer’s license.
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