CMPD officer charged with DUI was double legal alcohol limit, records allege

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer with almost two decades on the job is on unpaid leave after being arrested on a charge of DUI in South Carolina, officials said.

Stephen Brown, off duty, was driving Monday afternoon on S.C. 55 before 3 p.m. while more than double the legal alcohol limit, according to Clover Police Department Sgt. Tracy Reid. Brown was driving a personal vehicle, Reid said.

The legal limit for alcohol while driving in South Carolina is a blood alcohol concentration of .08. Online South Carolina court records show Brown is charged with first offense DUI of .16 or higher. He was released after his arrest on a personal recognizance bond of $2,262, court records show.

Clover is southwest of Charlotte in northern York County.

Brown, an officer for more than 18 years who most recently was assigned to the Airport Division, in on unpaid leave as CMPD does an internal investigation, a statement released by CMPD said.

CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said in a statement released by the department that officers have responsibilities even when off duty.

“Wearing the badge represents a commitment to integrity, responsibility and service— on duty or off,” Jennings said. “I take that responsibility personally and expect every member of this department to do the same. When an officer violates that trust, it’s a betrayal of the profession. We will hold our own accountable.”

CMPD has more than 1,800 officers.

The arrest of a CMPD officer in York County is the second in six months. Officer Dylan Lineberger was charged by Rock Hill police with harassment in October 2024. Lineberger’s case remains pending, records show.