North Charleston police officer charged with DUI

The Post and Courier

A North Charleston police officer has been placed on unpaid leave after crashing her cruiser into a ditch in Jedburg while off duty and under the influence of alcohol, authorities said.

Officer Christina Mask, 29, crashed her fully marked 2011 Ford Crown Victoria around 1 a.m. Monday, Highway Patrol Sgt. Bob Beres said.

An open container of alcohol was found in the cruiser, Beres said. Troopers did not say what type of drink it was.

Mask was headed east on McMakin Road in Jedburg when the cruiser she was driving ran off the road and struck a driveway culvert, Beres said. She was wearing a seat belt and was not injured in the wreck, he said.

Citing court documents, WCSC-TV reported that her blood-alcohol level was recorded at .17, more than twice the legal limit.

Mask is charged with driving under the influence and an open container violation, Beres said.

Mask has been employed with the department since 2009, police spokesman Spencer Pryor said. Her Facebook page states that she holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from West Central Technical College in Georgia and she worked at Lieber state prison before becoming a police officer.

Pryor said Mask had no prior problems on her work record and has been known as a hard-working officer. In fact, she was recently named
officer of the month, he said.

Police officials placed her on administrative leave without pay after learning of her arrest, he said.