A veteran Midvale police officer resigned Tuesday after he was cited for a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence following a four-car crash Halloween weekend.

Detective Sgt. John Salazar was off duty and driving an unmarked police Dodge Charger near Wallace Lane (2935 E.) and 4600 South in Holladay about 1 a.m. Sunday when he sideswiped a parked vehicle, said Midvale City Attorney Craig Hall.

Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson said Salazar's car then struck a pickup truck, pushing it into a third car parked in a driveway. A woman who was a passenger in the car apparently lived nearby and walked home before police responded. No one was injured in the crash.

Midvale police and Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies arrived and smelled alcohol on Salazar, who was cooperative, Hutson said. Police gave several tests to Salazar, who was issued a citation but was not booked into jail.

Salazar was given a Breathalyzer test, Hall said, but Hall did not release the results of the test.

Hutson said it is not uncommon to cite and release a person for DUI and said he wasn't sure if an officer, deputy or someone else took Salazar home. Hutson also said he was unaware of where Salazar had come from or how long he had been driving before the crash.

Salazar was authorized to drive his city issued vehicle while off duty, Hall said.

Salazar is a 13-plus year veteran of the force and acted as the public information officer for Midvale police.

"He's been an exemplary employee," Hall said.

A prosecutor for Holladay will review the case this week and determine if additional charges will be filed or if Salazar may face stiffer DUI charges, Hutson said.

"Driving under the influence is a very serious charge, even if it is only a class B misdemeanor, Hall said. "It's a tragedy for John and it's a tragedy for the city," he later said.

The passenger in Salazar's car was interviewed by police, but probably won't be charged because the driver is the responsible person in a property damage accident, Hutson said.

Salazar resigned from the police force Tuesday and his resignation was accepted, Hall said.

An insurance adjuster ruled the police car a total loss and said there was significant damage to the other vehicles.