A Lincoln Police Officer is under investigation for driving under the influence following accusations of an assault.
A statement from Chief Jeff Bliemeister says officers responded to the parking lot of Grata Bar around 2:30 Sunday morning. Off-duty LPD officer Austin Espinoza reported a man assaulted him after being involved in an argument with him and woman – both family acquaintances. The woman said Espinoza assaulted her. Both received minor injuries.
As officers spoke with Espinoza, they developed reason to believe that he was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. Espinoza submitted to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and
a preliminary breath test, both of which he failed. Officers transported Espinoza to The Bridge where they conducted an official chemical test. The result showed an alcohol concentration of
.112 grams of alcohol/210 liters of breath.
Officers cited Espinoza for Driving under the Influence and Assault, both misdemeanors. Austin Espinoza has been placed on unpaid, investigative suspension. In addition to the criminal
investigation, LPD is also conducting an internal investigation concerning this incident. The policy guiding our internal investigative process is available for review at Lincoln Police General
Orders – Internal Investigations.