On April 20th, 2023, police respond to a vehicle crash involving a suspected intoxicated driver. >> What's going on, ma'am? What happened? [Applause] >> What's going on? I'm calling my boss. >> Where you coming from? >> Where you coming from? literally like right now on >> you just sit >> there. >> It is. Yeah. Jeez. I see. >> Uh, she did get out. >> Yeah, I know. She did get out and uh >> she she was like, she basically was like standing up. >> What happened? >> You have your driver's license. Did you get back or >> not yet? >> I'm still waiting on her. >> Yeah, but in a minute. I'll steal with the >> What happened here? >> Hey, Lindsay, just stay with her. >> Ma'am, do you speak English? >> No. >> Hey, do any of you guys speak Spanish? Do I speak Spanish? >> Yeah. [Music] Um, so I'm guessing >> was the Ask them if the bus was stopped and they were stopped behind it. >> You speak Spanish or Portuguese? >> Portuguese. >> Portuguese. >> But you can speak Spanish. Okay. >> So ask them what happened. The Was the bus stop? So she hit rear and them and they pushed her then. >> Was the bus stopped? >> Was that the bus stop? >> Or was the bus moving? >> Okay. He was going slow. So maybe he had just pulled off. >> So the bus was slow. How fast were they going? >> How fast were [Applause] like 25. >> They're only like 25. >> And they're in the right lane. >> Yes. I So they thought that the bus was going to stop. >> Yeah. >> So then they slowed down and that's when the car slammed into them and they slammed into the bus. >> All right. >> Okay. She hasn't gotten out of the car yet. >> She got out while I was there cuz I told her to get out and she like >> Yeah. >> Anyone else in the car with her? >> They didn't see anybody out there. No license. >> She has no license. Huh? >> She doesn't have a driver's license. >> You smash into this guard. Hello ma'am. [Applause] You should give me your license. [Applause] What happened? >> Ma'am, let her ma'am. We're over here. No worries. I don't know. I'm That's fine. She stepped away. What's your name again? Excuse me. What's your name? Hello. You need some help? Here. Come outside real quick. >> Yeah. Listen, >> we're done with traffic investigation. >> That's fine. That's fine. >> No, I'm not going out of the car. >> Step out of the car for me. Okay. >> No. >> All right. I'm going to pull you out of the car. Step out of the car. >> Should I Should I video? >> I'm videoing. Okay. Step out of the car. >> Ma'am, come out of the car. If they want to get to >> Don't catch Eric. car. >> Your air went off. The vehicle has to be towed. Come out of the car. >> You have to come out of the car. Okay. >> Step out of the car. Just step out. I'm just trying to help you cuz I don't want you to reach over there and grab something. >> Please do not >> I'm going to let go of you, but you're going to come out. Is that good? >> Okay. >> All right. Step out. >> Come on. >> Ma'am, don't start reaching in your car. >> Let's go. Let's go. Or I'm going to pull you out. >> We're out of options now. >> Ma'am, step out of the vehicle like you were earlier. >> Come on. What? >> Get out of the vehicle like you were earlier. Listen, >> step out of the car. >> Listen, stop. >> Stop. Stop. >> Stop. Step out of your car. >> When you get out on like you don't have any Lindsay. >> Okay. >> I'm not. >> Please step out of your car. >> No. >> The vehicle is going to be towed. You have to come out of the vehicle. I'm fine with that. But >> you can't be in the car when it's being told. >> I need to call someone. >> All right. You'll have an opportunity for that in >> You have to come out. You don't have the option to stay in the car. >> No, officer. >> Stop. >> Stop. Relax. >> No. >> You were calm before. Relax. I spoke to you earlier. You were very calm. >> Yeah. I was >> Let's get back to that. Let's get back to that how we were before. Cuz I don't know why you're getting all hyper and all of that. All right. Can we pick it back up, please? Nice and calm, right? Listen, like I explained, we're done with the crash. I'm investigating for possible driving under the influence. You understand that? Before I do that, I got to read you some things. Okay? I just need a yes or no. You understand? All right. I'm required to warn you before you make any statements. Listen to me. Can you pay attention? Give me a second. Ma'am, before you make any statements that you have the following constitutional rights, >> I know I have the right. >> All right. I just got to explain it to you. Okay. Just listen to him. >> I I I want I want to I want >> just listen to what he has to say. This is only to protect you. >> You have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions. Do you understand? >> You understand? >> Hey, go on the path inside. She's not reaching for nothing. You have the right to remain silent, not answer any questions. Do you understand that? >> No. >> What don't you understand about it? >> I would like to reach >> my friend. >> We have to get through this. Okay. >> Okay. I know. I know. >> Let's relax. Let's relax. We're just talking. >> We're just talking right now. >> No, we're not talking. >> We are talking. I'm trying to have a conversation with you, but I need to read this to you so you're protected. Do you understand that? And and and I know what I'm protecting. >> Without me reading your rights, you don't have these constitutional I need to know that you understand you have these constitutional rights. Okay. >> Well, I know that I have these consequences. >> Look, you have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions. You understand? >> I don't I don't agree with that. I don't agree with that. I don't agree with that. >> I just need to know that you understand with it. >> I don't I don't agree with any statement. >> I don't agree with it. >> Now, just listen though. Must be freely. >> I don't agree with it. >> Okay. Just listen. I don't agree with it to the presence and representation I don't agree with it >> of your choice before you make any statement and during >> I don't agree with it. >> If you cannot afford a lawyer, you are entitled to the presence or representation of a court appointed lawyer any statements and during any questioning. If at any time during the interview you do not wish to answer any questions, you are privileged to remain silent. I can make no threats or promises to induce you to make a statement. This must be of your own free will. Any statement can be and will be used against you in the court law. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you? >> No. >> Are you just saying no because you don't agree with it or you don't understand them? >> Do you understand the rights? >> No. >> What don't you understand? >> I don't understand. >> What don't you understand? >> I don't understand. >> I need a >> I don't understand. >> I don't understand. >> I want to be >> I don't understand. >> Let's Let's bring it. >> Don't Don't put your lip Put your [ __ ] eyes up. I don't give a [ __ ] to look at you. >> You're not looking at me. >> What don't you understand? So I can help you understand. my free will. >> You understand your rights then? >> No. >> How am I going to get help? You don't understand me. >> Give me my >> boyfriend. >> All right. You're going to have an opportunity to talk to me? >> No. I need them. I need them right now. >> No. No. >> Are you ready to go out of the car so you can take a talking? >> No. Like I know. I didn't know what this man is. >> Is this car your name? >> Yes. >> You're the register owner? >> Yes, sir. >> What's your name? >> Erica. Oh, Erica. I'm Officer Mendes. Okay. Like I explained to you, Erica. I'm just trying to have a conversation. >> I don't care what your name is. I'm not trying to go to jail. Like, >> why would you go to jail? >> I'm not trying to I'm not >> Why would you go to jail? I'm not trying. >> What is it? >> Did you have any drinks today? >> Did you have anything to drink today before you drove? >> There it goes. >> What? >> Did you have any drinks today? >> No, I'm annoyed. >> Why are you annoyed? >> I'm super [ __ ] annoyed. >> We have to go through this process. Okay. Why? >> I'm not going to be able to go anywhere because I'm investigating for driving the >> Well, investigate crash. >> That's what I'm trying to do. But you're not helping me. >> What? What do you want from me? >> Yeah. You have any drinks today? >> No. >> Okay. >> What do you want? What else do you want? >> Have any medical conditions that you suffer from? >> No. >> All right. Did you get your head at all today? >> No. Okay. Would there be a reason why uh you >> No. Do you want to conduct some field sobriety exercises for me so that I can determine whether you are under the influence of >> you don't want to do them? >> All right. If you don't do them, then I have to end my investigation based on the information that I have right now. With that in mind, would you want to do the field sobriety exercise? You don't want to do it. All right. You're going to be placed under arrest suspicion of driving under the car. Listen, you're out of the car now. Come out. >> Stop. Stop. >> What is wrong with you people? >> Stop. >> Don't pinch. >> Stop. >> Relax. Relax. Let's sit down, Erica. >> No, >> listen. Like I arrest for suspicion. >> Okay, that's fine. >> Stop. Stop right here. >> Just going to pat you down. >> Get this off. >> Do you have a license in the car? >> Yeah, that's it. I left him for the whole time. >> Erica, relax for me. This isn't helping. Okay. You have anything on you that's going to poke. >> You're going to get another >> I don't give a >> follow you to back. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> There's a model. >> Pretty sure it ran valid. >> Erica was charged with DUI and battery on law enforcement. She appeared in court the next morning in custody where a judge found probable cause, declared her indigent, and appointed a public defender. Her bond was set at $1,000, which she quickly posted, securing her release later that day under a no alcohol condition. But within weeks, prosecutors quietly dismantled the case. On May 4th, 2023, the state attorney's office declined to file the felony battery charge and instead downfiled the DUI to a misdemeanor, transferring it to county court. The move effectively killed the felony case, and by August, the $1,000 cash bond was refunded to her shity.