Off-duty LAPD officer crashes into McDonald’s Restaurant in Diamond Bar

An off-duty Los Angeles police officer was arrested Friday for allegedly driving drunk after he crashed a car into the drive-through area of a McDonald’s near the 60 Freeway.

California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez said Jonathan Chel, 29, of Fullerton, was cited on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence and released to his department.

Chel couldn’t be reached for comment Friday. The solo crash was reported at 1:15 a.m.

Jimenez said the officer was driving a Mazda 3 eastbound on the 60 Freeway and took the off-ramp to Brea Canyon Road. It crashed off the roadway and traveled across an approximately 50-foot area separating the off-ramp from the drive-through area of the restaurant, Jimenez said.

He said Chel didn’t have a passenger.

Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Thomas Richards said firefighters responded to a call of a traffic collision with a person trapped at 1:18 a.m. But no extrication was needed, he added.

Chel was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center and treated for injuries the CHP described as moderate. Jimenez didn’t know Chel’s specific injuries.

LAPD officials said the department isn’t releasing any information about the officer at this time.

“We’re allowing the CHP to conduct an investigation and we are not involved in it,” LAPD Sgt. Barry Montgomery said.

 

 

He didn’t know if Chel was placed on leave.

“All we’re confirming is he was off duty because the CHP is spearheading the investigation,” LAPD Officer Luis Garcia said.

Garcia said they haven’t had contact with Chel yet.

Peter Horner, who is the owner of the McDonald’s where the officer ended up, said in statement that the restaurant wasn’t damaged but a fence around the property sustained some damage.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.