Judge: Chattanooga detective didn't make a 'single effort' in alcohol treatment

David Catchings
David Catchings

During a Monday hearing, Hamilton County Sessions Court Judge Gary Starnes told David Catchings Jr. that he wouldn't accept his excuses.

Catchings, a Chattanooga Police Department major-crimes detective, is charged with DUI and domestic assault in two separate incidents. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in September, and his mother-in-law accused him of striking her in the face in the early hours of New Year's Day.

photo David Catchings' latest mugshot
photo Major Crimes Detective David Catchings Jr.

Catchings is out on bond, but a court-ordered evaluation completed Jan. 13 stipulated he must complete an adult intensive outpatient program for alcohol treatment, 12 hours of a drug and alcohol class and attend a 12-step support group.

Starnes found out Monday that Catchings hasn't met any of those stipulations.

"Here we are a month later and he hasn't done a single outpatient treatment?" Starnes asked.

Catchings told Starnes that his insurance did not cover any of the outpatient program he was ordered to complete. But prosecutor Rodney Strong pointed out that Alcoholics Anonymous, a 12-step program like the one recommended after his evaluation, is free.

Catchings said he didn't have an excuse. Starnes told him he should have notified his attorney that his insurance wouldn't be accepted at the recommended program so the court could make other arrangements.

"I don't think you made a single effort to do any of this," Starnes said.

Starnes at first said he was going to revoke Catchings' bond, then told him if he could set up the appropriate treatment before leaving the courthouse he would allow him to remain free.

Starnes also bound Catchings' charges over to a grand jury, which could return an indictment in six to eight weeks. Catchings' mother-in-law and father-in-law were also present at the Monday hearing, but left soon after the charges were bound over. The detective is ordered to have no contact with his in-laws and has been wearing an alcohol monitoring bracelet.

He told the judge he hadn't had any alcohol since the last incident.

Contact staff writer Claire Wiseman at cwiseman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347. Follow her on Twitter @clairelwiseman.

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