Cape Elizabeth Police Capt. Brent Sinclair, charged with operating under the influence after a traffic accident in Gorham, has returned to work from an administrative leave.
The accident and arrest occurred Oct. 4 after Sinclair’s black pickup truck cut off Susan Jensen’s Honda at the intersection of Main and South streets (routes 25 and 114), according to the accident report.
Sinclair returned to work on Sunday after the preliminary internal investigation was completed, said Cape Police Chief Neil Williams. Williams would not confirm or deny why Sinclair was placed on administrative leave. He would not say if further action against Sinclari would be taken pending the final results of the internal investigation.
The Cape Elizabeth Police Department placed Sinclair on paid administrative leave on Oct. 6, said Town Manager Mike McGovern.
Williams had said Sinclair would be on leave for as long as the investigation lasted. Williams did not return a call from The Current Tuesday afternoon seeking further details of Sinclair’s return to work.
Sinclair was traveling in Gorham with his wife and three children when the accident occurred. None of them, including his 44-year-old wife, 12- and 14-year old sons and 10-year-old daughter, were injured. Sinclair, 46, a 23-year veteran with the Cape Elizabeth Police Department, was arrested just after 10:30 p.m. Oct. 4 and charged with OUI.
The new details about the accident were contained in an accident report released this week by Gorham Police Chief Ronald Shepard.
Gorham police had previously released only the details contained in a press release about the arrest and accident. Shepard had been unavailable for comment because he was attending a training session, but this week he said police have handled the accident as they would any other.
“We handle this like anybody else,” he said. “We educate and educate people that you do not drink and drive because of the repercussions such as accidents.”
Gorham police have declined to release any information about Sinclair’s alcohol consumption level because they say it is part of an ongoing investigation.
The accident report also indicated that Gorham Sgt. Benjamin Moreland witnessed the accident while he was in his police cruiser on School Street.
In the report, Moreland, who investigated the accident, stated that both Jensen and Sinclair claimed they had a green light at the intersection. Moreland saw Sinclair cut off Jensen’s car, which struck Sinclair’s side rear tire and bed area.
Gorham medics treated Jensen, 53, at the scene for minor injuries. Jensen, who lives on 25 Webster Road in Gorham, had three passengers in her car. None suffered any injuries, according to the report.
Sinclair, who lives on 58 Mast Hill Road in Saco, was released on personal recognizance that night because the Gorham Police Department did not think he would be a flight risk prior to his court hearing, said Gorham Police Lt. Christopher Sanborn. The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office has not established a court date and is still reviewing the case. No one from the district attorney’s office returned a phone call seeking comment.
Gorham police would not respond further on the accident because the case is still under investigation.
Sinclair joined the force in 1985 and served three years as the department’s detective before the department promoted him to sergeant in 1991, according to the Cape Police Web site. Sinclair has an undergraduate degree in criminology and a master’s degree in business.
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