IMPD officer Allen Johnson pleads not guilty to DUI

Allen Johnson, an Indianapolis police officer facing a second drunken-driving charge, pleaded not guilty at a court hearing.

Johnson, 27, appeared for an initial hearing Friday in Hamilton Superior Court. The five-year veteran of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated following his arrest early Aug. 8 in Fishers.

Police said Johnson, who was off duty, drove his 2010 Chevrolet Camaro over a concrete roundabout and hit a telephone pole at 4 a.m., according to court documents. A breath test showed his blood alcohol concentration to be 0.13 , above the 0.08 threshold for intoxication in Indiana. He failed a couple of sobriety tests and refused to submit to a chemical test, the documents said.

A Fishers Police Department officer said Johnson smelled of alcohol and had "red bloodshot eyes," according to a probable-cause affidavit. Johnson said he had "three to four mixed drinks," before getting behind the wheel.

Johnson was suspended without pay, pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

This was the second time Johnson has been arrested in a drunken-driving case. In November 2012, Johnson, who was driving a pickup truck, was pulled on Keystone Avenue near 71st Street for speeding. Johnson told an officer he had three drinks, court documents said. Johnson failed field sobriety tests and registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.086, which is above the level of .08 at which a driver in Indiana is considered to be drunk.

Court records show Johnson was found guilty in that case of one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and was placed on probation.

IMPD suspended Johnson for 30 days and recommended support services, IMPD Sgt. Kendale Adams said.

Johnson's pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, said Andre Miksha, chief deputy prosecuting attorney. A jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 6.

Call Star reporter Steph Solis at (317) 444-6494. Follow her on Twitter: @stephmsolis