Suspected drink-drive officer investigated again

An Auckland police officer is being investigated for a second time after initially being cleared of avoiding a drink-driving blood test.

Constable Matt Hooper was first investigated when a legal loophole saw him avoid a drink-driving blood test after injuring himself in police station toilets in December last year.

He came out of the toilets with a head injury and was taken to hospital before a second evidential breath test could be taken.

A legal technicality means drink-driving blood tests can only be taken at hospital if an injury was the result of a car crash.

He was cleared of any charges but the Dominion Post today reported Mr Hooper was again stood down earlier this month and was the subject of a criminal investigation as the result of further information.

- NZPA