Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price in new IPCC probe
The chief constable of Cleveland Police is facing a fresh inquiry over the arrest of his police officer partner.
Sean Price is already the subject of criminal and disciplinary inquiries into corruption and misconduct claims.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is now looking into the circumstances of his partner's drunk and disorderly arrest last April.
No action was taken against Det Ch Insp Heather Eastwood, but it is claimed the pair failed to report the arrest.
Mr Price, 55, and his deputy Derek Bonnard, 49, are due to face separate hearings within two months into alleged misconduct.
Mr Price is facing 11 allegations and Mr Bonnard seven, the IPCC said.
The pair were arrested on 3 August last year and deny any wrongdoing.
The latest investigation involving Mr Price centres on the arrest of Ms Eastwood, who is now Mr Price's wife, by North Yorkshire Police in Northallerton on 4 April 2011, before they were married.
An IPCC spokesman said: "The IPCC has begun an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of a Cleveland Police officer by North Yorkshire Police in April 2011.
"The officer was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in Northallerton on 4 April 2011. The officer was released subsequently with no further action being taken.
"The matter was referred to the IPCC by both Cleveland Police and Cleveland Police Authority in relation to the officer's conduct, an allegation that she failed to report her arrest to her employers and an allegation that Chief Constable Price was aware of the matter and also failed to report it."
Ms Eastwood is suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. Mr Price is also suspended and on bail.
Mr Bonnard remains suspended but no longer under arrest.
Cleveland Police declined to comment pending the continuing investigations.