³ÉÈËXÕ¾

A high-ranking member of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) appeared in court Monday following his weekend arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular assault.

Maj. Chadwick Dickerson, a 25-year veteran who oversees all sheriff’s detectives, was arrested Saturday after a crash near Graham.

“The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office confirms that one of our majors was arrested over the weekend in connection with this incident,” PCSO wrote in a statement. “This is a deeply concerning matter, and our thoughts are with everyone impacted.”

Investigators said Dickerson failed to yield the right of way at the intersection of 132nd Avenue E. and 288th Street E. and collided with an SUV.

“When Dickerson entered the intersection, his Dodge Ram pickup struck the passenger side of the Ford Expedition that was traveling west on 288th,” Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Pierce County Loren Halstrom wrote in an incident report based on Washington State Patrol (WSP) investigations. “The Ford Expedition rolled onto its side and stopped against a fence. The Dodge Ram stopped in a ditch.”

The six occupants in the Ford Expedition were a 27-year-old woman who was driving and is seven months pregnant, her 30-year-old husband, her 57-year-old mother, and her three children, ages 8, 4, and 3, according to a news release from WSP. The 57-year-old woman suffered several broken bones. The other occupants appeared to be uninjured.

Dickerson told responding deputies “he had taken his eyes off the road, momentarily,” according to Halstrom’s report. He was also taken to the hospital and suffered several broken bones.

“Deputy Pressel reported that Dickerson appeared to be walking in a straight line, Pressel could not smell any signs of intoxicants, and that Dickerson’s speech did not appear to be impaired,” Halstrom wrote.

Pierce County major arrested for DUI, vehicular assault

Dickerson reported he had two vodka sodas while golfing and didn’t feel impaired. He reportedly refused to perform voluntary field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI, according to incident findings. His blood draw is pending.

Due to the nature of the 57-year-old woman’s injuries, Dickerson was also placed under arrest and booked into the Pierce County Jail for vehicular assault, according to WSP.

Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank said the WSP is currently handling the investigation. He wrote a statement on X, asking people to be patient with the legal process.

I want everyone to know that I am deeply saddened and sorry about what happened. The victims are in our thoughts and prayers. Please allow the legal process to proceed. It will take some time.

— Sheriff Keith Swank (@Swank4America)

Dickerson is scheduled to return to court Wednesday.

Contributing: James Lynch and Frank Lenzi, ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest