This browser does not support the Video element.
Pierce Co. major charged in DUI crash announced retirement
Major Chad Dickerson has retired from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office after being charged with two counts of vehicular assault-DUI.
PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. - A Pierce County Sheriff's Office major charged with two counts of vehicular assault-DUI has announced his retirement, effective immediately.
Major Chad Dickerson is accused of driving under the influence and causing a serious crash in Graham that injured multiple members of a family on July 12. Dickerson was officially charged in the crash on Wednesday.
Now, the Pierce County Sheriff's Office said it was recently notified Dickerson's retirement, and will be separating employment with the major on Friday, Oct. 24.
Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank has since launched an internal investigation into deputies who responded to the crash, specifically regarding their body camera usage and handling of the initial investigation.
This browser does not support the Video element.
Sheriff Swank launches probe after Pierce County Major charged with DUI
Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank announced an internal investigation into deputies who responded to an off-duty crash involving Major Chad Dickerson, who is charged with vehicular assault and DUI after a July collision.
The backstory:
Dickerson, who was driving a Ram pickup truck while off-duty, allegedly failed to yield at an uncontrolled intersection at 132nd Avenue East and 288th Street East, colliding with a Ford Expedition that had the right-of-way.
The Expedition had a family inside, including three children—ages 8, 4 and 3—their parents, and their grandmother, who suffered a fractured vertebra and multiple broken ribs. Neighbors responded after hearing the crash and pulled family members from the SUV.
According to court documents, investigators noted Dickerson had an odor of alcohol and watery, bloodshot eyes. A blood draw nearly four hours after the crash returned a BAC of 0.091.
Before Washington State Patrol took over the investigation, responding deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office allegedly turned off their body cameras and cleared the scene of debris before troopers arrived.
Dickerson is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 6 for the vehicular assault case.
MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
New video shows violent attack inside Edmonds, WA massage spa
Seattle passengers frustrated with cancelled flights over Alaska Airlines ground stop
Seattle woman arrested after punching firefighter, biting officer
Everett Police patrols ballot boxes to maintain election integrity
WA nonprofit rallies to help military families impacted by government shutdown
WA man arrested for allegedly pointing laser at King County Sheriff's helicopter
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
The Source: Information in this story came from court documents filed in Pierce County Superior Court, Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank and previous FOX 13 Seattle reporting.