A former Commerce City manager, who resigned when questions emerged about receiving preferential treatment over driving incidents, was arrested for drunken driving, police said Tuesday.
Perry VanDeventer, 59, was driving a 2001 silver Dodge Dakota at East 120th Avenue and U.S. 85 about 5:45 p.m. Monday when he crashed into the back of a 1996 red Chevrolet truck, said Heather Grady, Commerce City police spokeswoman.
No one was injured during the latest accident, and VanDeventer could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
VanDeventer resigned under pressure from the City Council on Aug. 31, and Police Chief Brian Hebbard was subsequently placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of preferential treatment.
Hebbard failed for six months to tell an investigative officer that VanDeventer admitted to him that his wife had been involved in an accident in December.
She allegedly hit a parked car while driving a city-owned sport utility vehicle and later VanDeventer paid $3,000 for damages.
Commerce City’s 90-member police union last week called for Hebbard’s firing or resignation for ethical reasons.
“I would like to get some closure on this so I can get back to work,” Hebbard said Tuesday.
He said he has under a gag order and could not comment on the specifics of the case.
Mayor Sean Ford could not be reached for comment.
Grady said a decision regarding Hebbard is expected by the end of the month.
In the latest accident, police officers believed VanDeventer was drunk, and they had him perform roadside tests, which he failed, Grady said.
He was taken to police headquarters where he failed a breath test, she said.
VanDeventer was issued a summons for careless and drunken driving and taken to a detoxification center, Grady said.
VanDeventer was previously arrested for allegedly driving drunk but was convicted on a lesser offense of improper mountain driving, Colorado Bureau of Investigation records show.
A letter from resident Dustin McIntyre to the City Council also accused VanDeventer of turning the wrong way into a housing development, hitting a curb and driving through construction markers in July.
Commerce City officials are currently conducting a nationwide search for a new city manager.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
