Cherry Point commander removed after arrest

The Marine Corps has relieved the commander of the Cherry Point air station of his duties following a drunken driving arrest, officials said Thursday.

Newport police pulled Col. Douglas Denn over at 11 p.m. Monday, and a sobriety test showed he had a breath-alcohol level of 0.14, according to the Carteret County Clerk of Courts Office.

In North Carolina, drivers with a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 are considered impaired.

Marine Maj. Gen. Carl Jensen relieved Denn of his duties, saying the arrest had eroded good order and discipline within the ranks at Cherry Point and that he was no longer confident in Denn's ability to command, according to a news release from Marine Corps Installations East.

Denn, who had led the air station since August 2009, has been assigned to administrative duties there.

Marine Col. Robert Clinton has assumed command at Cherry Point.