ALBANY — For the second time in eight months, police Officer Shawn Dixon is facing charges he left the scene of a car crash before dawn on Wednesday.

This time, the off-duty officer's vehicle hit a utility pole near a transformer and ended up in a ravine in Lincoln Park after Dixon allegedly drove drunk.

The crash damaged a switch gear, which caused power outages to 35 customers for about 3½ hours, National Grid spokesman Nate Stone said.

Dixon, 31, who had been back at his job less than two months since the earlier incident, was suspended without pay, Acting Police Chief Robert Sears told reporters at a news conference at police headquarters.

Sears called it "extremely concerning" that history has repeated itself.

"This is a very, very troubling circumstance, to say the least, that Mr. Dixon was in a similar predicament earlier in the year and we find ourselves in the same position less than a year later," Sears said.

Dixon was charged with driving while intoxicated, criminal mischief and leaving the scene of a crash. He was ticketed for failing to stay in his lane.

The incident took place on Park Avenue, just west of Eagle Street, near a wooded area between Swan and Eagle streets. Sears said. Dixon's car hit the utility pole and went into a ravine in that area shortly before 5 a.m.

A passerby called police, who found Dixon on the 100 block of State Street where he showed signs of intoxication, the department said.

"We will not accept this kind of behavior from our officers and whatever I can do to reiterate that I will do," Sears said.

"Any time something like this happens, it really tears at the fabric of what police officers do every day," the chief said.

National Grid spokesman Nate Stone said the vehicle damaged a switchgear, which caused power outages to 35 customers for about 3 ½ hours.Dixon, who joined the force in 2015, was also off duty in May when police said he ran a red light in May and slammed into another car at 3:30 a.m. near West Lawrence Street and Myrtle Avenue in Pine Hills.

In that incident, Dixon left behind his bumper and license plate before he fled. Police found Dixon's car blocks away on Ryckman Avenue shortly after the crash was reported but couldn't find or contact the patrolman.

Dixon was charged with a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. He pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a property damage accident, a violation akin to a traffic ticket. He agreed to pay $50 in restitution to the other driver involved.

Dixon is free on bail following his arraignment before City Court Judge Joshua Farrell.

Asked how difficult it was to get a second chance after the first arrest, Sears responded: "A lot of officers don't need a second chance."