By FireRescue1 Staff
SMITH COUNTY, Texas — Newly released dash cam footage shows a traffic stop that led an assistant fire marshal being placed on leave and later resigning.
KLTV.com reported that Oren Hale was pulled over on Aug. 20, allegedly with a mixed drink and pornography displayed on the on-board computer screen. Hale was swerving before he was stopped and was ticketed for failing to maintain a single lane, according to the report.
When deputies approached Hale, they noticed explicit images on his screen.
“Probably not the best idea, man,” the deputy said. “If we see it, other people can see it. You’ve got Smith County written on the side of your vehicle.”
A deputy also asks Hale what a cup in his vehicle contains. Hale responds that it is Coke but later admits it had bourbon in it. A breathalyzer test showed the presence of alcohol in Hale’s system, according to the report. However, Hale passed the field sobriety test and was not arrested.
An internal investigation found Hale to be in violation of the Smith County Employee Handbook for operating a county vehicle under the effect of alcohol, possessing an open container and viewing pornographic material on a county issued computer.