Chesco cop gets ARD for DUI in Montco

NORRISTOWN » A Chester County police officer has been admitted to a special probationary program on charges he was driving drunk on Route 422 in Upper Providence, Montgomery County.

Mark Todd Twaddell, 46, an East Brandywine Township police officer, was ordered to complete six months of probation, 24 hours of community service and an alcohol highway safety program as part of his admission to Montgomery County’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, general impairment, in connection with a Jan. 24 incident.

Judge Wendy G. Rothstein said Twaddell, of North Coventry, cannot operate a motor vehicle, other than for work-related duties, for 30 days. According to the judge’s order, county probation officials will allow Twaddell to carry his service weapon “only while on duty as a police officer during his scheduled shifts” with the police department.

“The service weapon shall be secured at all other times within the East Brandywine Township Police Department,” the judge wrote in the order explaining the terms of the ARD agreement.

The ARD program is a special probationary program that allows first-time offenders of non-violent crimes to clear their criminal records if they successfully complete a period of probation. The program does not require offenders to admit guilt.

“Mark is an excellent police officer. He’s an honest, hardworking cop, a 20-year veteran and a sergeant in his department and a very well respected police officer,” defense lawyer Martin P. Mullaney said on Twaddell’s behalf. “He’s a human being and he made a mistake. He went through the process and he accepted his responsibility and he got the same exact result that anybody else would get in the same position.

“Mark didn’t receive any special treatment. He was treated just like anybody else in the same position would have been treated,” Mullaney stressed.

An investigation began during the evening hours of Jan. 24 when state police troopers from the Skippack barracks, who were on routine patrol on Route 422 in Upper Providence, observed a Toyota pickup truck allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed, higher than the posted speed limit of 55 mph, according to the criminal complaint filed by state police Trooper Anthony Giarrizzo. Police alleged they had to travel at 105 mph to catch up to the pickup truck, which was briefly clocked traveling 88 mph and later at 72 mph.

After stopping the pickup truck and identifying Twaddle as the driver, police alleged they detected an odor of alcohol on Twaddle’s breath and observed Twaddle to have bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.

When police asked Twaddle how much he had to drink, he allegedly responded he had two 12 ounce beers “approximately two hours ago,” according to the criminal complaint. Twaddell also allegedly told police, “I’m a cop and I know better to drink and drive, so I only had two.”

Police alleged they observed signs of impairment as Twaddle performed standard field sobriety tests. Twaddle also consented to a breath test, which showed the presence of alcohol, police alleged.

With the general impairment charge, prosecutors alleged Twaddle operated a vehicle after imbibing a sufficient amount of alcohol that rendered him incapable of safely operating a vehicle.

“He obviously regrets the entire situation,” Mullaney said.

Mullaney said Twaddell also faced disciplinary action from his employer, was suspended “for a period of time” and had to complete mandatory counseling programs. Twaddell has the support of his fellow officers, Mullaney said.