An off-duty Philadelphia traffic officer has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence following a late night crash in the Southwest section of the city.
Only NBC10 was on the scene of a three-car accident that resulted in Officer Joe Kelly, a 23-year veteran of the force, being cuffed and having his gun taken from him.
Witnesses say the Kelly rear-ended a car at a stoplight on 49th Street and Woodland Avenue, causing that car to hit another.
"He had a badge around his neck and said he was an officer. He pulled out a wallet and flashed an said he was police and pull over," victim Douglas Kelley told NBC10's Tim Furlong. "I said I wouldn't pull over 'til I see an actual police car."
Douglas Kelley was in the first car that was hit. Two of his grandchildren were in the car at the time of the accident and were taken to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to be checked out.
Kelly, 52, was arrested this morning and charged with DUI, criminal mischief, intimidation, harassment, making terroristic threats, simple assault and reckless endangerment. He posted 10 percent of $25,000 bail and was released ahead of his next court appearance on March 28, according to court records.
He has been placed on administrative leave and both a criminal and an internal affairs investigation are underway, police said.
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Douglas Kelley said that the officer smelled of alcohol.
"He was a little arrogant about the whole situation, like it was somebody else's fault and not his..." Kelley said.
