Crime & Safety
Man Says Auburn Police Officer's Leniency Led to Son's Death
Chris Walker's 18-year-old son Corey died in May 2010 when he hit a utility pole in Walton County. Blood tests showed the teen's blood alcohol level at .217.
WSBTV reports a metro Atlanta father claims his son died because an officer with the was too lenient during a traffic stop.
According to the report, Chris Walker, whose 18-year-old son Corey died in May 2010 when he hit a utility pole in Walton County, questioned why the officer didn't arrest his son when he stopped him that night.
"He suspected him of drinking obviously. If he would have just got him out of the truck and checked. They did absolutely nothing and allowed him to drive off," Chris Walker told WSBTV.
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Blood tests showed Corey Walker's blood alcohol level at .217, about three times the legal limit for an adult, WSBTV reports. Chris Walker said the officer should have done more to determine whether his son was intoxicated.
Auburn's police chief told WSBTV the city attorney advised the department not to comment.
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According to the report, WSBTV showed the dashboard video from the traffic stop to Georgia's peace officers standards and training, the agency that certified police officers, and a representative said based on the video they could not draw a conclusion on whether the officer should have asked the teen to take a field sobriety test.
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