Posted on August 15, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Updated Friday, Oct 30 at 10:58 AM
******
VIRGINIA BEACH – A hearing for a Virginia Beach police officer accused of DUI was continued until September at the request of his defense attorney, Larry Slipow.
Officer Bryan Womble was arrested in June after police say he got into a car accident and left the scene. Police arrested Womble a few blocks away.
Officer Womble has been on administrative duty since the night of his arrest.
Police say the 36 year-old officer crashed his car into another car at the corner of 20th street and pacific avenue.
Reports show that the night officer Womble was arrested, his blood alcohol content was almost twice the legal limit.
Making matters worse, he was charged with hit and run for allegedly trying to leave the scene of the accident.
His employment with the police department could be in jeopardy depending on the outcome of the case.
There are questions as to whether it will affect pending cases, as well.
Officer Womble had been a decorated member of the department’s traffic enforcement team.
He arrested NFL star Bruce Smith in may on DUI charges, and testified against him earlier this month.
Womble still has numerous DUI cases pending in court in which he will testify for the prosecution. Defense attorneys have been asking to reschedule those cases for after Womble’s hearing.
The local president of mother’s against drunk driving doesn’t believe it will affect their outcome.
“I think it’s much ado about nothing, I’m not aware of any relevance that Officer Womble’s actions as a private citizen as to how it would weigh in on any pending DUI case,” said Michale Goodove, MADD president.
Womble faces misdemeanor charges. The hit and run could have been a felony if there had been any injuries or damage worth more than $1,000.
The new date is September 21.