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Dash cam: Deputy scolds sergeant driving drunk

PLAINIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) – Newly released dash cam video of the traffic stop and subsequent arrest of a Rockford, Michigan police sergeant for drunken driving shows that he did not get any special treatment.

Sgt. Aaron Sawyer was arrested on May 31 after he was pulled over on Northland Drive south of West River Drive on his motorcycle.

But Sawyer didn’t stop immediately after a sheriff’s deputy attempted a traffic stop. In fact, the officer called out a “pursuit” over the radio after Sawyer seemed to be trying to get away. Sawyer, heading east on West River Drive, drove around a stopped car to turn south on Northland Drive as the deputy used his lights and siren to signal Sawyer to stop.

A short time later, Sawyer stopped. The deputy clearly knew who he was and had tough questions for him.

“Step off that, Aaron,” the deputy said, referring to the motorcycle Sawyer was driving. “What the (expletive) are you doing? … Are you kidding me? I had my siren going. You were doing almost 100 down West River Drive.”

“I’m sorry,” Sawyer replied.

After conducting a field sobriety test, the deputy arrested Sawyer.

In-car video from just after the arrest shows Sawyer apologizing repeatedly and trying to convince the deputy that he was not trying to flee.

“I apologize, Mario,” Sawyer said.

“Don’t apologize, Aaron. This sucks for both of us,” the deputy replied.

Sawyer later pleaded guilty to drunk driving and was sentenced to a year of probation.

Sawyer remains off the job on unpaid leave as he remains without his driver’s license.