A Blades and Ellendale police officer with a loaded gun was arrested at a Felton tavern after being accused of interfering in an effort to identify underage patrons.
Shortly before midnight, on Saturday officers from the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) were checking for possible underage drinking at the Owls Nest and arrested one young patron. People under 21 are barred from taprooms like Owls Nest.
While an officer was attempting to verify the second individual suspected of being underage, William J. Paskey, 26, of Harrington, forced his way in between the two and began to push the officer away, a DATE release stated.
The actions by Paskey allowed the second suspected underage person to flee on foot.
Despite being identified as an officer Paskey continued to push the officer. Paskey had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person and appeared to be intoxicated, the DATE release stated.
When the officer attempted to take him into custody he continued to push the officer, was belligerent, and flailed his arms in an attempt to avoid arrest.
Paskey was subdued and taken into custody without further incident. The young person who fled was never identified.
Paskey’s was found to be in possession of a loaded .380 caliber firearm.
It was determined that Paskey is a full-time police officer with the Blades Police Department and a part-time officer with the Ellendale Police Department.
Paskey was charged with Hindering Prosecution, Possession of a Firearm While Under the Influence, Interference with a DATE Officer, and Resisting Arrest. He was arraigned at J.P. Court #7 and released on his own recognizance pending a future court date.
