WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- Before allegedly running amok last week in Pennsylvania while under the influence, Washington Township police officer William McCarthy III was involved in a domestic violence incident in New Jersey, authorities said.

Authorities say Washington Township police officer William McCarthy III was involved in a DWI crash in Hazelton, Pa. on Thursday. Pictured, McCarthy's Nissan Armada SUV.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement a sequence of events preceding McCarthy crashing into several vehicles in Hazleton, Pa., while allegedly under the influence were "considered domestic violence, therefore it must remain confidential to protect the victim."

A law enforcement official speaking on the condition of anonymity told NJ Advance Media that McCarthy had violated a restraining order and police in New Jersey were already on the hunt for him before he was involved in the incidents in Pennsylvania.

McCarthy, 45, of Great Meadows, was arrested Thursday on charges of DUI and resisting arrest in Hazleton after his Nissan Armada SUV was stopped at a police roadblock. Police say his vehicle had heavy front-end damage when it arrived at the roadblock and McCarthy had been driving the vehicle even though the airbag had deployed.

Based on witness statements, two of the vehicles struck by his SUV were occupied and on the roadway while others were parked.

Pennsylvania, unlike New Jersey, charges DUIs as misdemeanors rather than motor vehicle offenses.

The incident in Hazleton occurred nearly a year to the day after a DWI arrest in Blairstown in which he was found parked on the shoulder of Route 94 in a daze and with an open bottle of tequila between his legs, according to arrest reports obtained by NJ Advance Media.

McCarthy, who'd been kicked out of the house a day before the Blairstown DWI in June 2015, told the officer who stopped to check on his condition that he saw dead people and asked if the officer also saw dead people. McCarthy refused to submit to field sobriety tests and to provide breath samples.

His wife later told Blairstown police there were family issues at home, that he'd been drinking heavily since 2002 and that they tried to get him help before. McCarthy denied having a drinking problem, according to the arrest report.

According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, McCarthy's license was suspended for 90 days this past August for a first-time DWI violation in connection with the Blairstown incident. At the time of his arrest on Thursday, his driver's license was valid.

McCarthy has been suspended without pay from the Washington Township Police Department pending the outcome of the investigation into the most recent incident, police Chief Jeffrey S. Almer said in a statement on Friday.

Washington Township police spokesman Lt. Douglas Compton said the Blairstown DWI was subject to "an Internal Affairs investigation and handled as directed by Attorney General Guidelines."

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.