New Photos Show Bottles Of Booze In Accused Officer's Car

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - New information has been released about a Boulder detective arrested and charged with DUI.

Newly released photos show bottles of alcohol in Det. Scott Morris' car. He and DUI enforcement officer Elizabeth Ward, both with the Boulder Police Department, have been charged with DUI about a month apart.

The deputies that arrested Morris say it wasn't the first time they had run into him. They claim that Morris was pulled over more than 40 times in just the past few years. This time he was pulled over for speeding and arrested for driving drunk all while having a loaded hand gun within his reach, which is also illegal.

The photos show a pint of vodka, an empty bottle of peppermint schnapps and a loaded gun. The new photos will likely be used against Morris in court.

The arrest happened mid-November. Morris was clocked going 20 miles over the speed limit near Middle Fork Road in Boulder.

Newly released police documents show that the deputy who pulled over Morris' grey Honda could smell an odor of alcohol on his breath. Morris admitted to having a few drinks about 20 minutes before getting pulled over. He's even quoted as saying to the deputy, "Can't you just cut me a ticket?"

Officers on scene recognized Morris indicating he had been stopped 44 times in the past few years.

"There's a certain hypocrisy when looking at the fact that a police officer can be stopped 44 times and not have anything happen until now," CBS4 Legal Analyst Karen Steinhauser said.

CBS4 asked Police Chief Mark Beckner about the photographic evidence against Morris. In an email he said in part, "it is what it is." When asked about Morris' numerous traffic stops he replied, "This is as much of a concern as the actual arrest. It indicates a pattern of behavior that if true, is not acceptable."

"You always have to ask the question of was there professional courtesy or special consideration given because somebody was a police officer?" Steinhauser said.

Morris' test results say that he was over the legal limit. He admitted to deputies that he had been having marital problems.

Both Morris and Ward have been place on paid administrative leave while their cases are being investigated internally.