WITNESSES to an alleged drunk-driving crash in Charleswood say a former Winnipeg police officer drove his 20-year-old son from the scene before police arrived and then returned alone a few minutes later to speak with officers.
The crash happened around 3 a.m. Thursday on a quiet street.
Investigators believe speed was a factor as the vehicle allegedly driven by the man's son careened through ditches, smashed into a tree and damaged a parked van before coming to a stop between 602 and 606 Charleswood Rd.
One resident who rushed out of her home to see what happened said the driver who crawled out of the Oldsmobile Alero had a gash over one eye and kept asking to use a phone to call his father.
"All I heard him say was, 'does anybody have a phone? I need to call my dad, I need to call my dad,'" the resident said, adding the driver sounded scared, but was not slurring his speech.
Guy Powell, who lives at 606 Charleswood Rd., offered the use of his cordless phone, and the man phoned his father.
Powell said the man appeared agitated, but not necessarily intoxicated. He had no trouble dialing the phone, Powell said Friday in an interview in front of his damaged yard.
The man told him that his father was a police officer, Powell said.
A few minutes passed before the retired police officer pulled up in a dark-coloured truck and ushered his son inside, despite protests from witnesses.
"He said to the kid, 'get in,' and the other people on the street were saying, 'wait a minute - you can't leave, the police are on their way,' and he said, 'I'll be back, I'm going to come back,'" said another area resident.
At no time did the retired officer say he was a former city police officer, witnesses said.
He came back a few minutes later and talked with officers at the scene..
Police would not confirm the former officer took his son from the scene, only that he is a retired member of the police service.
Police said they took a 20-year-old man into custody and released him on a promise to appear in court at a later date. They did not identify him, as the charges have not been formally laid.
Charges of impaired driving, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident are pending.
Police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said the investigation is ongoing, and other charges could be laid.
"Any other aspect of this investigation will be investigated thoroughly, we're taking it very seriously and if there are any other offences deemed as a result of that investigation, we will follow through," he said.
Michalyshen said the charges could be formally announced in the coming weeks.
There is some evidence, however, the man may have been suffering from complications from diabetes. Powell said police at the scene told him the ex-officer rushed his son home so that another family member could take him to hospital.
Concerns were also raised about an insulin pump the man may have had, Powell said.
Kevin Fifer, another resident, said insulin was found in the Alero and he also heard suggestions the man was taken to hospital.
Police couldn't say if the retired officer took his son because of a medical emergency or if the 20-year-old was treated in hospital.
"It appears in this particular case (he) needed some medical treatment," Michalyshen said.
james.turner@freepress.mb.ca
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