CT officer charged with DUI, evading responsibility following off-duty crash involving parked cars

A police officer in Willimantic has been arrested on DUI and other charges after allegedly crashing his personal vehicle into a parked car in the early morning hours earlier this month and fleeing from the scene.

Officer Eduardo Garcia, 25, who was off-duty at the time of the crash, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant charging him with driving under the influence, reckless driving and evading responsibility, according to a statement issued by Douglas Glode, deputy chief of the Willimantic Police Department.

The charges stem from a crash reported at 2 a.m. on March 3 in the area of 480 Main St., where police said Garcia was heading east when he allegedly struck a parked vehicle. The collision set off a chain reaction that damaged a total of six unoccupied, parked vehicles, according to police.

Garcia was placed on paid administrative leave “immediately after the accident” and his police powers were suspended after investigators discovered that the vehicle that left the scene was owned by the 25-year-old, according to Glode.

Glode said Garcia was charged after a “thorough investigation” by Willimantic police.

Garcia posted $100,000 bond following his arrest and is scheduled to be arraigned on April 9.