Body, dashcam shows off-duty Ludington officer swerving, running stop sign before cams are turned off
By: -----
Ludington, MI - The Ludington Police Department (LPD) released documents and video footage this week detailing a June 2024 incident in which an off-duty officer suspected of drunken driving was released without charges after a supervisor ordered body and dash cameras turned off.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:11 a.m. on June 1, 2024, when an on-duty Ludington Police Department officer, identified as Noah Noble, stopped a vehicle on suspicion of operating while intoxicated. After being stopped, the driver was identified as an off-duty LPD officer, Austin Mendez.
In the dash cam video from Noble's cruiser, you can see Mendez go around another vehicle to run through a stop sign, swerve in and out of his lane, stop in an intersection before proceeding, go 56 mph in a 30 mph speed zone and strike multiple curbs before being stopped. From that point, the dash camera shows Noble standing at Mendez's window speaking with him.
In Noble's body camera footage, before it was turned off, he can be seen speaking with Mendez. He asks Mendez where he was coming from, to which Mendez responded, slurring, Gasoline Alley Bar. The department cut audio from when Mendez stated where he was heading to, though documents reveal it was a person's home, though the name of the homeowner is redacted. When asked how much he had to drink, Mendez said three beers.
Noble then asked for Mendez's ID, which Noble handed to him. At this point, Noble walked back to his vehicle and muted his body camera.
Noble called a sergeant to the scene for assistance, since Mendez was a colleague. Sgt. Angela Babinec responded and directed Noble to turn off body-worn and in-car recording devices before doing the same herself, according to Police Chief Chris Jones. Mendez was then given a ride home, with no enforcement action taken.
Babinec notified Capt. Michael Haveman about the incident four hours later. An internal investigation was launched that afternoon.
As a result of the investigation:
* Mendez received a 24-hour unpaid suspension, was removed from specialized assignments and had his probation extended 12 months.
* Babinec was demoted to officer and received a 24-hour unpaid suspension.
* Noble did not receive any disciplinary action as all decisions were made by Babinec and Noble was following his supervisor's guidance, according to documents.
Jones said he contacted Michigan State Police on or about June 3, 2024, to request an independent investigation. After MSP completed its investigation and forwarded the report to prosecutors, charges were declined due to insufficient evidence.
Jones acknowledged the delayed public release in a statement addressing "rumors" about the incident but defended the department's handling of the matter.
"There were never any attempts to conceal this or any other information," Jones said.