TRAVERSE CITY -- A Traverse City Police Officer was charged for driving under the influence more than two months after he was involved in a crash.
“Our internal investigation is complete at his point. The prosecutor is reviewing a report by the State Police, who are looking into the actions of our officers who handled officer Sofferdine’s accident,” said Grand Traverse County Sheriff Thomas Bensley.
The Grand Traverse County Prosecutor has authorized formal charges against Officer Joseph Soffredine. Soffredine turned himself in Tuesday morning.
It all began in February after Soffredine crashed his car early in the morning on Cedar Run Road. Two Grand Traverse Deputies kept the Police Officer in their car when fire crews arrived and did not administer a breathalyzer or cite him for expired tags.
"The prosecutor is now looking at the report and will decide if the officers did something improper that may warrant criminal charges," Bensley said.
Soffredine was suspended without pay for four weeks during the investigation because he got into a fight at the House of Doggs earlier that night.
The Prosecutor said he authorized the charge after interviewing several witnesses who saw the officer at the House of Doggs and Dillengers the evening of the crash.
Soffredine faces one count of DUI.
