Off-Duty Police Sergeant Accused of Driving While Intoxicated with Child in Vehicle
An off-duty Dallas police sergeant accused of driving while intoxicated with his child in the vehicle lied to a sheriff’s deputy about the number of beers he had consumed before getting behind the wheel, according to newly obtained records reviewed by The Dallas Morning News.
Sgt. Matthew Terry, 40, was arrested early Friday morning in Delta County, located about 70 miles northeast of downtown Dallas. A sheriff’s deputy who pulled Terry over and a Department of Public Safety trooper who assisted with the traffic stop described smelling a “heavy odor” of alcohol, the trooper wrote in an arrest-warrant affidavit obtained Tuesday through a records request.
The Arrest and Charges
Terry said in a statement Tuesday that he was advised by legal counsel not to comment. He faces one count of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger, a state jail felony, and is on administrative leave from the Dallas Police Department pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation.
At the time of his arrest, Terry declined to provide a voluntary sample for police to determine his blood alcohol content, the affidavit says, leading to the trooper seeking and obtaining a warrant for a blood draw.
Crime in The News
Investigation and Evidence
The test results were not included in the records released to The News. Sgt. Chris Williamson, a DPS spokesperson, said in a statement Tuesday the results were sent to a lab for testing.
Sgt. Matthew Terry, left, is pictured with former Dallas police Chief Eddie García at an award ceremony in 2023.(Dallas police)
Representative and Investigation
Robert Rogers, an attorney for the Dallas Police Association, said he is representing Terry during the internal affairs investigation.
“He is presumed innocent until further proceedings,” Rogers said of Terry.
The Traffic Stop and Arrest
A Delta County sheriff’s deputy was dispatched after a caller reported a reckless driver traveling north in the southbound lane of Highway 24. The deputy saw an SUV driving the wrong way near the highway’s intersection with West Dallas Avenue before making the traffic stop, the affidavit says.
The driver — identified as Terry — had a “heavy odor of alcohol coming from his breath” and told the deputy he had drunk two beers prior to driving, the affidavit says.
The trooper was called at 12:07 a.m. to the location to assist with the traffic stop. Terry told the trooper he had actually drunk three beers and had taken medication, the affidavit says.
“Terry stated that he had lied to the deputy and told them that he had drunk two beers,” the trooper wrote.
Terry was found to be intoxicated after he participated in a field sobriety test, the affidavit says.
Aftermath and Previous Incidents
Terry was taken to a hospital, where he was “cleared by medical staff,” the trooper wrote in a report included in the records released to The News.
The child in the vehicle is between the ages of 9 and 11 years old, the report says.
Terry was booked into the Delta County jail after the hospital trip. Delta County Sheriff Marshall Lynch said in a statement Wednesday that Terry was booked into jail early Friday morning and then released in the afternoon after posting a $5,000 bond.
State law defines driving while intoxicated with a child passenger as operating a vehicle in a public place while intoxicated with a passenger under 15. A conviction could carry a punishment of 180 days to two years in state jail.
Terry has worked at the Dallas Police Department since September 2006. He was awarded the Chief’s Officer of the Year Award in 2023 at the department’s annual banquet.
Terry has been a subject of multiple investigations during his time at the department. Early in his tenure, investigations sustained allegations that he violated the department’s chase policy, caused a preventable traffic accident, and failed to account for a prisoner’s property, according to internal disciplinary records reviewed by The News.
Terry was sued in federal court and accused of using excessive force after he fatally shot a mentally ill man during an attempted arrest in August 2015. Terry was not charged with a crime in connection with the shooting. In early 2022, when the lawsuit went to trial, a federal jury found Terry had not used excessive force.
Conclusion
The case of Sgt. Matthew Terry highlights the importance of responsible behavior, especially for those in positions of authority such as law enforcement officers. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence and the potential consequences of such actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Sgt. Matthew Terry accused of?
A: Sgt. Matthew Terry is accused of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger, a state jail felony.
Q: What happened during the traffic stop?
A: During the traffic stop, Terry was found to have a “heavy odor of alcohol coming from his breath” and initially told the deputy he had drunk two beers. He later told the trooper he had actually drunk three beers and had taken medication.
Q: What is the potential punishment for driving while intoxicated with a child passenger?
A: A conviction for driving while intoxicated with a child passenger could carry a punishment of 180 days to two years in state jail.
Q: Has Sgt. Terry been involved in any previous incidents?
A: Yes, Terry has been a subject of multiple investigations during his time at the department, including allegations of violating the department’s chase policy, causing a preventable traffic accident, and failing to account for a prisoner’s property.
