
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 13, 1990                   TAG: 9007130813
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SEIZED AUTO INVOLVED IN DUI CASE

The car that a Roanoke police lieutenant was allegedly driving while intoxicated had previously belonged to Ronny Grogan, a suspected drug dealer killed last year in a drug-related shooting, authorities said.

The car, a red Porsche, had been seized by federal agents following Grogan's death last year and was turned over to the city Police Department for use in undercover investigations.

George W. Sutherland, head of the Police Department's vice bureau, was arrested early Wednesday morning and charged with reckless driving and operating the car while intoxicated.

State police said Sutherland is charged with going 80 mph in a 55 mph zone of Interstate 581 south, near the Liberty Road overpass.

Police Chief M. David Hooper said that he would not confirm or deny reports that the car involved had previously belonged to Grogan. However, Hooper confirmed that it was a city-owned vehicle used by police that had not been purchased with public money.

Hooper said that the car was not authorized for personal use. Sutherland was not on duty at the time of his arrest.

Sutherland, who has been on the force for more than 20 years, is on leave pending an internal investigation and his court hearing, scheduled for July 31.

by CNB