IMPD officer arrested on OWI charges in Hendricks County

HENDRICKS COUNTY, Ind. — An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer has been arrested in Hendricks County.

According to an affidavit for probable cause filed Friday, Peter Fekkes II was involved in a traffic stop with a Hendricks County Sheriff’s deputy around 11:04 p.m. Thursday. Police reported that Fekkes was driving a 2021 Ford Mustang in the area of Raceway Road and US Highway 36 when he drove left of the center line.

After Fekkes crossed the line, a deputy pulled him over at the intersection of Raceway and Broken Arrow Roads.

When police began speaking with Fekkes, he claimed he was eating Taco Bell, and that was what caused him to drive over the center line. Per court records, when a deputy asked Fekkes for his license and registration, Fekkes “displayed poor manual dexterity while doing so and fumbled for his documents.”

As he presented police with his documentation, Fekkes indicated his license had expired on July 1.

According to court documents, police noticed Fekkes was slurring his speech and had bloodshot, glossy eyes during the traffic stop. A deputy asked Fekkes if he had been drinking, but he denied having had any alcohol.

Law enforcement asked Fekkes to perform a few field sobriety tests. Police reporting on the incident indicates Fekkes declined to undergo field sobriety testing. Fekkes also refused to do a portable breath test.

While a deputy was talking with Fekkes, he admitted he is a “law enforcement officer who is in the process of separating from IMPD.” He claimed that was the reason he didn’t want to do any field sobriety tests, per court records.

As the incident continued, a deputy noticed Fekkes’ breath smelled like alcohol. Fekkes was ultimately handcuffed, searched and transported from the scene of the traffic stop to the Hendricks County Jail.

According to court documents, Fekkes was subjected to a certified chemical test at the Hendricks County Jail. The result of that test was 0.249g/210L. Fekkes was then transported to Hendricks Regional Health for medical clearance because of his high level of intoxication.

After he was cleared by medical staff, he was transported back to the Hendricks County Jail.

Per court records, law enforcement searched Fekkes’ vehicle. They found an open, half-empty container of Svedka Vodka in a black bag on the floor of the vehicle.

According to Indiana’s public court reporting system, Fekkes faces four charges:

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering a person — Misdemeanor
• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction in the last seven years — Level 6 Felony
• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more — Misdemeanor
• Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .15 or more with a prior conviction — Level 6 Felony

According to previous reporting , Fekkes was cited for drunk driving after a crash in Ohio in 2022. At the time, Ohio State Highway Patrol found an open alcohol container in the 2020 blue Jeep station wagon that Fekkes had crashed.

When he crashed in Ohio, Fekkes refused to do field sobriety tests. The 2022 report indicated he was a 21-year IMPD veteran at the time of the crash. Fekkes was also a sergeant with IMPD when he was cited for drunk driving two years ago.

In a statement issued to FOX59 and CBS4, IMPD reported that Chief Chris Bailey suspended Fekkes without pay on April 10, pending a recommendation of termination to the civilian merit board. Fekkes’ suspension was related to the drunk driving incident in Ohio he was involved in.

IMPD indicated that, at the time of his arrest in Hendricks County, Fekkes did not have police authority or powers because of the suspension and termination recommendation.

In its statement, IMPD added that, as with any person who is arrested, Fekkes should be considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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