Fort Worth police officer arrested

The Star Telegram by DEANNA BOYD dboyd@star-telegram.com - April 7, 2008

BURLESON -- An off-duty Fort Worth police officer was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after he was reportedly found passed out behind the wheel of his marked patrol unit at a Burleson intersection Sunday. Clinton Wyatt, who began with the department in January 2003, was released from the Burleson city jail Sunday after posting a $1,000 bond, said Sally Ellertson, a spokeswoman with the city of Burleson. A patrol officer assigned to the crime response team, Wyatt has been placed on restricted duty and is not allowed to carry a badge or gun pending the outcome of the investigation, said Lt. Paul Henderson, Fort Worth police spokesman.

Wyatt, 32, had been working at the Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday and had gotten off work about 6 p.m., Henderson said. The officer had apparently been on his way home in his take-home patrol car when he was observed by a Burleson officer asleep behind the wheel in the 100 block of N.W. Burleson Boulevard at the Renfro Street intersection at 3:49 a.m. Sunday. Ellertson said the marked unit was facing southbound about two to three car lengths from a stop light when observed by the Burleson officer. The case will be forwarded to the Johnson County District Attorney's office for prosecution. Henderson said an internal affair investigation is also underway. He said the department is investigating Wyatt’s whereabouts between when he got off work Saturday and his arrest early Sunday.