Police Officer Resigns After Fleeing Authorities in Second Car Chase in One Week

An Arizona police officer who led authorities on two police chases in the past week resigned Monday, the Tempe Police Department announced.

"Today Garrett Peterson resigned as a Tempe Police Officer after he was contacted by phone to begin an internal investigation reference his arrest this weekend," the police department said in a statement. "Garrett has been employed with the Tempe Police Department since May of 2007 and has worked in our Patrol Bureau his entire career as an Officer."

On Friday, Peterson, 30, was accused by his ex-wife of sending threatening text messages and making threatening phone calls to her and her new husband, according to KTVK-TV. When confronted by authorities, they say he led them on a chase with speeds reaching 120 mph.

He was eventually arrested on multiple charges, including felony endangerment, driving under the influence and threatening and intimidating, but was reportedly released Monday after posting bail.

That same day, Peterson led authorities on yet another chase. This time, however, the disgraced officer crashed head on into a commercial truck, according to Officer Carrick Cook with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

"At this time Garrett has been detained by DPS and is currently in their custody after he led Border Patrol and DPS on a vehicle pursuit on the I-8, near Yuma," the Tempe Police Department said in their statement.

(H/T: KTVK-TV)

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