SANDWICH, MA – A Sandwich police officer was arrested Friday night after his SUV crashed into a parked car on Grand Oak Road in the Forestdale village of Sandwich, Massachusetts, while investigators say he appeared to be under the influence.
The officer, Matthew Cotter, was off-duty at the time of the crash, according to police. He was unhurt, but the crash prompted a response from Sandwich police and then Massachusetts State Police, who took over the investigation and placed Cotter under arrest on charges tied to operating under the influence.
Cotter is now on administrative leave, the department said.
Woman reported SUV driving through bushes before hitting her car
Police said the crash was reported around 9:30 p.m. when a woman called to say a vehicle had driven through her bushes and struck her car. Officers responding to the scene found damage consistent with that report on Grand Oak Road.
When they arrived, police identified Cotter as the driver. Sandwich police said he appeared impaired, which led them to request assistance from Massachusetts State Police.
The agency later confirmed it helped with the crash response and took Cotter, 44, into custody. Police have not said how fast the SUV was traveling or whether any passengers were involved.
Administrative leave and an internal review follow the arrest
Sandwich police said Cotter has been placed on administrative leave while the department carries out its own review. In a statement, the department said its members hold themselves and one another to the highest standards.
The department also said it will conduct a thorough internal investigation in addition to the criminal case handled by Massachusetts State Police. That means Cotter is facing both a court process and a departmental review of the arrest and the crash.
Police have not said what disciplinary steps, if any, could follow the internal inquiry.
Relative at the scene drew separate police attention
During the investigation, a relative of Cotter’s came to the crash scene, according to Sandwich police. The department said that person was reported by an independent news photographer as verbally abusive and assaultive.
Police said they are investigating that conduct as a separate matter. No further details about the relative’s identity or possible charges were released.
The crash scene drew enough attention to involve both local officers and state police, but officials have not said whether the relative’s actions affected the arrest or the handling of the collision itself.
Court date set in Barnstable as questions remain about representation
Cotter is scheduled to be arraigned in Barnstable District Court, according to police. That hearing will begin the formal court process on the charges connected to the suspected drunken driving crash.
It was not immediately clear whether Cotter had an attorney who could speak for him. Police also did not release any additional information about the condition of the parked car’s owner or the extent of property damage.
For now, the case leaves Sandwich police dealing with a criminal investigation involving one of their own officers and a separate internal review of conduct within the department.
What officials have confirmed so far about the Forestdale crash
Officials have confirmed several key points: the crash happened Friday night on Grand Oak Road in Forestdale, the driver was off-duty Sandwich officer Matthew Cotter, and Massachusetts State Police took him into custody after local officers believed he was impaired.
They also confirmed that no one was injured in the collision, that Cotter is 44, and that he has been placed on administrative leave. Beyond those facts, police have released few specifics while the criminal case and internal investigation move forward.
The department has not said when its internal review will conclude. Court proceedings in Barnstable will likely provide the next public update on the charges.
