A former major league pitcher turned cop was fired just a day after graduating from the police academy when he was charged with driving under the influence.
Chasen Bradford, 34, was named one of 14 officers on probation from the Henderson Police Department after graduating from the police academy on March 21, nearly six months after he was hired.
However, the title was quickly rescinded when the Las Vegas native was arrested for misdemeanor DUI the following night. As of Saturday, Bradford was no longer an HPD employee.
According to an arrest report released Monday, a caller notified dispatchers about a suspected drunk driver at 10:23 p.m. Friday.
According to the caller, a “gray Ford pickup truck with an American flag sticker on the left side rear window” was “swerving all over the road” and “hitting the medians,” as well as “driving on a sidewalk.”
Former MLB pitcher Chasen Bradford, 34, was arrested for DUI on Friday, just one day after graduating from the police academy in Henderson, Nevada.
Bradford pitched for the New York Mets in 2017 and the Seattle Mariners in 2018 and 2019.
A Henderson Police officer stopped a pickup truck matching the description at the intersection of Anthem Parkway and Schaeffer Hills Drive, at which time the driver identified himself as Bradford.
When another officer arrived at the scene, the first officer noted an “aroma of an unknown alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle,” according to the report.
Bradford was then informed that another driver had called the police due to his erratic driving.
“He satisfactorily completed the walk and turn test, but did not satisfactorily complete the one-leg stand test,” the report states.
An officer also noted “six of six possible clues of impairment” after performing a horizontal gaze nystagmus test.
The test tracks involuntary eye twitches when looking to the side, a movement that alcohol only exaggerates.
Bradford was given a preliminary roadside breath test, which recorded his blood alcohol content at .104 percent.
This is several points above Nevada’s legal driving limit, which is 0.08 percent.
Bradford said he had drunk two beers, one at 9.45pm and another at 10.15pm, and insisted he did not feel its effect.
However, that number jumped to “five or six beers throughout the day” when he spoke to an officer later.
The former MLB pitcher was taken to the Henderson Detention Center, where he received two more breathalyzer tests.
It lost 0.094 percent in the first test and 0.098 percent in the second, according to the report.
As of Saturday, the 34-year-old man was no longer an HPD employee, according to Police Chief Hollie Chadwick.
Police received a report of a gray pickup truck that “swerved all over the road” and “hit the medians” on the night of March 22. They stopped the truck and Bradford identified himself.
He told officers he drank two beers earlier, but later confessed to drinking five or six. Police noticed an “aroma of an unknown alcoholic beverage” coming from his vehicle.
Before opting for a career change, Bradford pitched for the New York Mets in 2017 and the Seattle Mariners in 2018 and 2019.
He appeared in 86 games during his three years in the league and left MLB with a record seven wins. Bradford also pitched for the Las Vegas 51 for four seasons.
A letter signed Saturday by Police Chief Hollie Chadwick confirmed that the 34-year-old man was no longer employed by the department.
“Driving under the influence poses serious risks to our community and the Henderson Police Department will have zero tolerance for this behavior,” Chadwick wrote.
“Our valley cannot afford to lose any more lives due to the actions of our motorists, this includes members of the Henderson Police Department.”
Chadwick vowed to hold the police department to “the highest standards of conduct.”
Bradford was charged with misdemeanor DUI and released Saturday after posting $2,000 cash bail.
Under the conditions of his release, Bradford cannot consume alcohol, controlled substances or marijuana. He cannot be arrested again or receive criminal summonses.
Bradford’s arraignment is currently set for April 22.
