CPD officer put on administrative leave following DUI-related crash

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Chattanooga Police Department is investigating a DUI-related crash involving an off-duty officer.

On June 1 at around 11:30 P.M., Chattanooga Police responded to two related two-vehicle crashes. One on the 4200 block of Bonny Oaks Drive and another in the 4300 block of Highway 58.

The incident is being investigated as a DUI-related crash which involved an off-duty CPD Neighborhood Policing Officer, Mackenzie Pierre.

Pierre is charged with Driving Under the Influence, Leaving the Scene of a Crash, and Failure to Yield Right of Way.

According to the preliminary investigation, the initial crash occurred at 4200 Bonny Oaks Drive when a blue SUV, driven by Pierre, ran a red light and struck the passenger side of a vehicle that was stationary at the light. The driver of the vehicle followed the SUV. As the SUV attempted to cross Highway 58 to merge onto Highway 153 North, it was struck on the passenger side by a vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 58. After impact, the SUV traveled across the median and stopped in the grass at the bottom of the Highway 153 exit ramp.

CPD officers identified the driver of the SUV as Officer Mackenzie Pierre and notified CPD’s Traffic/DUI Unit.

Pierre showed signs of impairment and was transported by Hamilton County EMS to a local hospital for medical evaluation. No other individuals were transported to the hospital. One person was evaluated at the scene by Chattanooga Fire and EMS.

Officer Pierre was off duty and not operating a city-owned vehicle at the time of the incident.

Officer Pierre has been placed on administrative leave on June 2. He will remain on leave pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs investigation.

This investigation is separate from the ongoing traffic and criminal investigation.