Episcopal Bishop charged with manslaughter, DUI in fatal hit-and-run

January 9, 2015

An Episcopal church bishop was charged with vehicular manslaughter, drunken driving and other counts for a hit-and-run crash that killed a bicyclist on Friday, according to Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

Mosby says the charges will be filed Friday and an arrest warrant will be issued for Bishop Suffragan Heather Cook. Cook is the second-highest leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

Mosby says Cook's blood-alcohol level was at .22 after the crash, which is nearly triple the state's legal limit.

Cook's vehicle hit bicyclist Tom Palermo on Saturday afternoon two weeks ago. Officials say Cook left for approximately 20 minutes before returning to the scene.  the rest