Virginia Beach police sergeant charged with DUI

VIRGINIA BEACH

A police sergeant and 15-year veteran of the Police Department was arrested and charged with drunken driving Sunday night, according to court documents.

Shortly after 11:15 p.m., a state trooper pulled over Sgt. James Eric Riddick, 37, on Interstate 264 near the Independence Boulevard exit. He was weaving, smelled strongly of alcohol and failed field-sobriety tests, according to court documents.

Riddick was off duty at the time.

More than two hours later, he registered a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.18, according to a Certificate of Blood Alcohol Analysis. That's more than twice Virginia's legal limit for driving. He posted $500 bond later Monday morning and is scheduled to appear in General District Court on March 18.

Riddick, a Virginia Beach resident, is assigned to the Police Department's Third Precinct, which covers the northwest corner of the city. He joined the department in 1994, worked as a Special Investigations detective and was promoted to sergeant three years ago.

He is on administrative duty pending the outcome of his trial and an internal Police Department investigation, said Officer Adam Bernstein, a police spokesman.

Capt. Steve Smith, captain of the Third Precinct, said he was shocked to hear of Riddick's arrest. Riddick leads a special team of officers who focus on patrolling areas seeing spikes in crime or other problems, he said.

"He is an outstanding officer, an outstanding sergeant," Smith said. "This is totally out of character for him."

Riddick has 24 letters of recommendation and commendation in his record and a long list of accomplishments, including working undercover operations and entering a building engulfed in flames to save two people, Smith said.

In December, a Virginia Beach police officer's career ended after he was convicted of drunken driving. Bryan K. Womble was arrested after a crash at the Oceanfront on June 20 and registered a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.15. He was convicted in September, served five days in jail in November and was out of a job by mid-December.

Womble, 37, had served the Police Department since 2002 and was a decorated member of the Traffic Safety Unit, formerly the Selective Enforcement Team, which specializes in arresting impaired drivers.

Pilot writer Jen McCaffery contributed to this report.

Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com