Hundreds Of DWI Cases Could Be In Jeopardy

There are more than 100 pending DWI cases involving Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Barry Grimes.

A judge found Grimes guilty of contempt of court after video from the dash camera of his cruiser contradicted his testimony in a DWI case.

In October of last year, Grimes stopped 24-year-old Sarah Parra on suspicion of drunk driving. Grimes testified in court that he instructed Parra to perform a number of field sobriety tests, including a one-leg stand and a walk and turn test. Grimes told the court that during the one-leg stand test, Parra "put her foot down every third second" and "hopped around." Grimes also testified that Parra failed the walk and turn test.

The DWI hearing took a turn when Parra's attorney played the dash camera video from the traffic stop.

“The video recording not only showed that the incriminating evidence of the defendant's performance on the field sobriety tests did not exist, but that Grimes never even administered the specific tests as he claimed under oath,” court documents say.

The judge dismissed Parra's case and found Grimes guilty of contempt of court. Sources told Eyewitness News Grimes claimed he may have confused Parra's arrest with others he's handled.

The Mecklenburg County District Attorney's office told Eyewitness News it cannot comment on Grimes’ case or his pending cases.

But DWI attorney Bill Powers said there could definitely be fallout.

"Potentially, if the district attorney's office feels that his credibility has been so attacked, they could start dismissing cases,” he said.

Grimes apologized for not being prepared for court. The judge sentenced him to 30 days in jail.

Grimes is free now while he appeals the judge's decision.

"People should keep their minds open until they hear all the testimony,” Powers said. "If it's proven that he did fabricate testimony or lied, for lack of better term, they need to hold his feet to the fire."

Grimes has been with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department since 2008 and works in the Steele Creek Division. He is currently suspended without pay.

Previous Stories: May 3, 2011: CMPD Officer Suspended After Lying On Witness Stand