Suspected DUI police officer has prior conviction
Advertiser Staff
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A police officer charged with drunken driving Tuesday morning was convicted of a similar charge and also for leaving the scene of an accident in December 2006.
James A. Urban, 31, was a Honolulu Police Department officer in 2006 when he pleaded no contest to operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, a petty misdemeanor, and leaving the scene of an accident involving damages to a vehicle or property, a misdemeanor. The charges stemmed from a Oct. 1, 2006 incident, according to Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center records.
Urban was fined $900, had his driver's license suspended for 90 days, sentenced to two days in jail, and ordered to pay a $30 crime victim fee for the OVUII offense. He was fined an additional $150 and ordered to pay a $30 victim's fee for the misdemeanor charge.
Urban has been placed on paid leave after being charged with OVUII Tuesday. Police said Urban was off-duty but driving a marked HPD patrol vehicle when arrested at 2:19 a.m. at the Kapolei station.
He has an appearance scheduled May 27 at 'Ewa District Court.
Internal Affairs is also investigating Urban's actions, including his alleged use of the department vehicle.
Urban is assigned to the Kapolei patrol district and is in his fourth year with HPD.