Officer facing OVI charge after cruiser crash resigns

A Piqua police officer TROY — accused of operating a vehicle while under the influence while on duty has resigned from the department.

Justin Augustine resigned on Thursday, according to Piqua police.

Earlier that day, a new charge of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle was filed against Augustine.

Augustine had been charged last weekend with driving while under the influence after wrecking his cruiser while on duty Oct. 27.

“During the course of the past week, the Piqua Police Department has maintained transparency at the highest levels allowed by state and federal law, and provided information as quickly as possible with technical considerations and resources available,” read a statement from the department. “Most people have understood this, and we appreciate the supportive emails, phone calls and texts.”

Written pleas were filed earlier this week for Augus- tine, 38, of Troy, in Miami County Municipal Court on misdemeanors of OVI and operating a vehicle without being in reasonable control.

Police reports said he called his supervisor around 7:40 p.m. to a parking lot off East Ash Street, where his cruiser was parked with heavy damage after hittinga flat-bed semi with concrete barriers.

Augustine was placed on paid administrative leave and an internal investigation was being conducted, Piqua Police Chief Bruce Jamison had said.

Augustine refused a test for OVI and was charged accordingly. An arraignment on the firearms charge is scheduled for Wednesday in Municipal Court.