WASHINGTON COUNTY -- A lieutenant for the Washington County Sheriff’s Department was arrested for driving under the influence late Sunday night, officials confirmed Monday.
The arrest came after Lt. Jason “Jake” Lynn Adams was involved in an accident near Toquerville. Utah highway Patrol says Adams had been driving on State Route 17 when he veered off the road, over corrected and rolled his patrol car down an embankment. The accident is under investigation and being handled by Utah Highway Patrol.
Adams crashed in his patrol vehicle with four children inside. No one was seriously injured.
“This is tough,” said Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher regarding the arrest. “This is a guy I’ve worked side by side with for many, many years.”
Pulsipher placed Adams on administrative leave and an internal investigation will be conducted. That investigation will look into why, among other things, Adams was using a county vehicle for off-duty purposes.
“They contact a supervisor for supervisor approval to [use vehicles off duty],” says Pulsipher. “At this time, it’s my understanding that did not occur. That’s part of what we’re looking at, the policy violations of using the vehicle while off duty.”
Adams has worked for the sheriff’s office for more than 16 years in several capacities including as a public information officer. Most recently he worked as the head of the office’s criminal investigations unit.
Adams was booked into the Iron County jail on charges of driving under the influence, unsafe lane change and possessing a weapon while under the influence.
