An Aurora police officer found passed-out drunk behind the wheel of his patrol car in the middle of a street will not face criminal charges. At the time of the incident, Aurora police did not request results from a blood alcohol test and police on the scene did not tell EMS responders they thought Officer Nathan Meier was drunk.
Meier came clean during a police internal affairs investigation. He admitted drinking vodka and produced his blood alcohol reading from the hospital where he was taken. His BAC was over five times the legal limit. He was demoted but never arrested.
Information provided in a proceedings where you can face discipline is not admissible in court.
That left District Attorney George Brauchler without a BAC reading to present to a jury. Further complicating the case were statements from EMS personnel that they did not smell alcohol on Meier.
Brauchler says he's frustrated that he is unable to bring charges.