A police officer was arrested by state police and charged with driving while intoxicated early Sunday, May 11, according to Hooksett police. Officer Benjamin Beauchemin has been placed on administrative leave with pay.

Beauchemin was off duty, driving a Jeep Liberty on Cedar Crest Road in Auburn early Sunday morning when he lost control of the vehicle and flipped over, according to State Police Troop A. The accident happened at 1:15 a.m.

Beauchemin refused a blood-alcohol test and was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was not injured, police said.

“Police officers are supposed to be held to a higher standard of conduct,” Police Chief Stephen Agrafiotis said.

He said Beauchemin is a patrol officer and has been with the department a little more than a year. He joined the department after serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. He has had an unblemished record since arriving in Hooksett, Agrafiotis said.

Hooksett police have Beauchemin’s home address listed in Auburn, but state police said he gave them a Deerfield address.

Hooksett police launched an internal investigation after they were notified of the incident that morning.

Both Auburn police and state police responded to the accident scene. State police are investigating because the case involves a local police officer. Beauchemin was released on his own recognizance and is due to be arraigned on July 9 in Auburn District Court.