North Fulton County

Officer injured after drunk driver hits patrol car, police say

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Alpharetta police officer is recovering after investigators say a drunk driver crashed into his squad car.

Police told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik that Officer Dustin Bak, a member of the DUI taskforce, was driving home on GA 400 Friday night when the man crashed into the back of his car.

“He was going about the speed limit there on 400, when another driver, suspected of DUI, drove up rather quickly and smashed into the back end of our patrolman’s vehicle,” department spokesman Jason Muenzer said.


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Forsyth County deputies told Petchenik they arrested Joseph Gipe, 25, on DUI charges.  He bonded out of the Forsyth County Jail after posting a $5,800 bond, Deputy Douglas Rainwater told Petchenik.

Muenzer said Bak suffered some minor injuries and his squad car was totaled in the wreck.

“The officer is doing good, thankfully,” Muenzer said.  “He did suffer some injuries but we hope to see him back on the road here soon.”

It’s not the first time someone has hit an Alpharetta police officer while suspected of DUI.

In September, police said Ceijai Broughton hit Officer Jomo Bent's car as he patrolled a construction site on GA 400.

“This is becoming all too common,” Muenzer said.  “It needs to stop.”

Police said the same night police arrested seven DUI suspects in Alpharetta alone.

“The message here is don’t drink and drive,” Muenzer said.