Weston cop in parking lot crash faces OUI

A Weston cop was arrested by fellow cops from his own department after he plowed into a car in the police station’s parking lot and drove off, prosecutors said.

Leo Richards, 54, of Weston pleaded not guilty in Waltham District Court to drunken driving and improper storage of a firearm, prosecutors said.

“Richards has been placed on administrative leave from the Weston Police Department and has surrendered his badge, firearm and license to carry to Weston Police,” Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan’s office said in a statement.

Prosecutors said on Sunday about 10:30 p.m., a dispatcher heard what sounded like a car crash in the back of the station.

“Following the crash, police allegedly observed Richards, who was off-duty, driving away from the parking lot,” prosecutors said. “Police subsequently contacted the defendant and asked that he return to the police station to resolve the crash which resulted in some damage to a parked personal vehicle.”

When Richards returned to the station, cops said it appeared as though he was drunk. Richards performed a field sobriety test and failed, prosecutors said.

Police reported finding a firearm in the trunk of Richards’ car that had no locking mechanism and was not locked in a container.

Richards was released on personal recognizance. He is due back in court April 4.