LMPD chief to decide fate of officer speeding with no lights, siren in fatal April crash

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An internal investigation into a Louisville Metro Police officer, who was driving 95 mph in a 45 mph zone on Fern Valley Road without her lights and siren on when she hit and killed a man, is now in the hands of LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey.

According to the investigation, officer Alyssa Begel was responding to an emergency call on April 2 after an EMS crew reported a patient inside an ambulance was being disorderly.

Dashcam video shows Begel swerving through traffic before the impact, when her cruiser hit a black Cadillac that had pulled onto Fern Valley Road. The driver, Charles Briscoe, 61, died at the scene. Begel was injured in the crash.

A toxicology report shows Briscoe had a blood alcohol level of .173, nearly twice the legal limit. He turned into Begel’s path, according to the investigation.

LMPD’s Public Integrity Unit (PIU), which investigates police department members criminally, turned its case over to the Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney's Office in early June.

A Jefferson County grand jury returned a "no true bill" against Begel in Briscoe's death on July 30, meaning they declined to indict her on a charge of second-degree manslaughter in Briscoe's death.

"In any death investigation, there may be mitigating factors that ultimately lead to a determination not to criminally indict," Erran Huber, a spokesperson for the Jefferson Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, said.

LMPD’s Professional Standards Unit (PSU) has now turned over its case to Humphrey, some four months after the criminal investigation concluded. The PSU investigates LMPD policy violations by police department members.

While the criminal case wrapped up in about two months, the investigation into whether Begel violated any policies—which started April 11—took nearly six months.

According to a collective bargaining agreement between LMPD and the River City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #614, the PSU has 180 days to complete its investigation. Once that investigation is done, the police chief has another 90 days to review the investigation and issue any punishment, if he deems it necessary.

Sgt. Matt Sanders, media and public relations commander for LMPD, would not tell WDRB when the PSU gave the investigation to Humphrey, only saying “The chief received the completed PSU case within the collective bargaining deadline.”

LMPD has not yet responded to WDRB's request asking why the department won't give an exact date, which ends the 180-day clock for the PSU investigation and starts the clock for the 90-day review by Humphrey.

Begel remains on paid administrative leave.

This story may be updated.

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