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BURLINGTON (MCT) — A Burlington police officer was charged Tuesday for his alleged involvement in a multiple-vehicle wreck on Huffman Mill Road earlier this month.

Burlington police officer Bruce Shoe, who has worked for the department for more than 22 years, was charged with two counts of hit and run and two counts of reckless driving, which are all misdemeanors, said 1st Sgt. Chuck Slemenda of the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Burlington police did the initial investigation of the multiple-vehicle wreck that happened at about 11 p.m. Dec. 10, but Slemenda took over after it was discovered that Shoe's vehicle was involved. While his 1997 Nissan pickup truck was found abandoned in the parking lot of a former car dealership on Huffman Mill Road with his wallet inside, authorities weren't identifying him as the driver.

Slemenda talked to everyone involved in the wreck last week, but he was waiting to talk to Shoe. Slemenda said he talked to Shoe on Tuesday and then met with the district attorney's office. Following the meeting, Shoe was issued citations.

Shoe was suspended without pay after the incident Dec. 10. Burlington Police Assistant Chief Greg Seel said the Police Department would conduct an internal investigation once Slemenda's criminal investigation was completed.

"We have been apprised by Highway Patrol of the charges," Seel said. "We will begin our internal investigation on Jan. 3. Until that time, he is on unpaid leave."

According to police reports, Shoe is accused of hitting a 2004 Mercury that was driven by Susan Hunter, 64, of Elon. She was traveling south on Huffman Mill Road and heading to Alamance Regional Medical Center when Shoe allegedly hit the Mercury with his truck as the vehicles approached the intersection with Garden Road.

Hunter told the Times-News that Shoe hit her vehicle a second time before backing into the 2003 Honda Accord, which was driven by Judy Inscoe, 63, of Burlington. Shoe allegedly backed into the Honda while making a U-turn on Huffman Mill Road

Shoe then allegedly drove to the parking lot of the Brittany Apartment complex, which is where he lives, and then exited the parking lot and hit a 1995 Honda driven by Shanta Jones, 23, of Burlington.

He then drove on Huffman Mill Road again before abandoning the truck in a parking lot. Slemenda didn't actually interview Shoe initially until between 1:15 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. Dec. 11. Prior to that, Slemenda said that Shoe couldn't be reached and he wasn't answering his apartment door.

At the time of that interview, Slemenda didn't administer a breath test to determine whether Shoe had been drinking alcohol, even though Shoe allegedly showed signs of impairment. Slemenda said there wasn't enough probable cause because two hours had elapsed since the time of the accident.