Former Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Pleads Guilty to DUI

Andrew Sanders had been terminated for cause a month after his arrest

Former Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Sanders was arrested Feb. 7 and pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and third degree assault Tuesday. Sanders had charges of careless driving, lane usage violation and obstructing a peace officer dismissed through a plea deal.

Third degree assault is a decertifying charge. Through being convicted, Sanders can have his certification to be a law enforcement officer in Colorado revoked by the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, or POST.

According to Sanders’ arrest affidavit, he swerved between lanes multiple times before a Parker Police sergeant pulled him over. A responding officer described Sanders’ eyes as glassy, slurring his words, and stumbling after asking Sanders to exit the car.

The affidavit states that officers brought Sanders to a medical facility, applied for and received a warrant to draw a blood sample after he failed to acknowledge if he understood the legal requirement to submit to a blood alcohol content test, and had to be physically restrained to take the sample as he repeatedly said he didn’t consent.

It was while officers waited for jail transport for Sanders that he allegedly spat on the officer sitting across from him as she checked her watch, saying “Yeah look at your watch bitch.”

About a year ago, Sanders was congratulated by the DCSO on a LinkedIn post for graduating from the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, which the agency describes as “one of the toughest and most respected leadership programs in law enforcement today.”

“This kind of dedication doesn’t happen by accident—it comes from a deep commitment to serve, lead, and grow. These Commanders represent the future of our agency,” DCSO Sheriff Darren Weekly is quoted saying in the post.

DCSO terminated Sanders for cause on March 2.

Sanders’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 3.