Suspected driver in DUI police death remains out on bail

The man who allegedly struck and killed a Rocklin police officer remains free on bail. No formal charges have been filed because extra investigative efforts are being taken with the high profile case involving a police officer, authorities said.Eric Dungan, 25, of Lincoln, reportedly had been drinking the night he is suspected of hitting Officer Matthew Redding on Highway 65 and Stanford Ranch Road. His arraignment has been postponed until Nov. 30.Dungan appeared in an Auburn courtroom Wednesday, where no formal charges were filed. He is suspected of gross vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and felony DUI.He was allegedly driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.16 percent the morning of Oct. 9 when he reportedly struck Redding, 29.The Rocklin officer was assisting the California Highway Patrol on a traffic call. Dungan was arrested and later released from Placer County Jail on $150,000 bail.Officer Kelly Baraga, spokeswoman for the California Highway Patrol, said Thursday the delay in filing a formal complaint is not unusual."Whenever we have a collision that is either high profile, involves an officer or results in multiple deaths we have the option of asking the Multiple Disciplinary Action Investigation Team for assistance," she said.So as not to compromise the investigation, the team will ensure all the elements of the CHP report are comparative to its own investigation, Baraga said.Lt. Stuart Davis, spokesman for the Rocklin Police Department, expressed confidence Thursday at having the team investigate his comrade's death."MAIT is a very professional bunch handling major accidents," Davis said. "They are some of the best of the best we have and we have every confidence in them."A complete report from the investigative team could take more than a month, officials said.The officers who knew and worked closely with Redding try daily to come to terms with his untimely death."Obviously it's a lot of ups and downs since his death," Davis said. "It's a void that we have to manage on a daily basis. We miss him."- Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com.