Police won’t say why deputy left scene of accident, as “professional courtesy”

MARION – More details have surfaced about a hit-and-run accident involving a Linn County sheriff's deputy, but police are not releasing all the details, saying that doing so could hinder the internal investigation.

Deputy James Crawford, 50, of Anamosa, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and failure to stop within an assured clear distance after the accident on May 9 in Marion. He has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Police said Crawford was southbound in his pickup on 10th Street around 6:45 p.m. when he rear-ended a motorcycle at the corner of Indian Creek Road. No one was hurt in the accident, but when officers arrived, Crawford had left.

“It's our opinion that he left the scene without giving all the information he needed to,” Marion Police Chief Harry Daugherty said Friday.

Crawford, who was off duty at the time, went to the Marion Police Station later in the evening to talk to police, Daugherty said. He was issued the two citations and released.

When asked what reason Crawford gave for leaving, Daugherty declined to comment. He also refused to say if there was any suspicion that Crawford was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He said doing so could taint Sheriff Brian Gardner's internal investigation, because only a few people know the truth.

“Most of this stuff would (normally) be released, but when it's internal, it gets a little sticky,” Daugherty said. “There's some professional courtesy going on.”

Daugherty said there were three or four witnesses to the accident. Gardner called the situation an “ongoing personnel matter” earlier this week and declined release more information.

Crawford has a June 6 court date, according to the citations.