On December 21st, 2023 in Newport, Washington, a traffic stop following multiple 911 calls quickly became tense when police encountered a female driver in an unstable condition while a young child remained in the back seat. And within minutes, the situation escalated from a routine [music] check to active control as the subject began losing composure and reacting [music] aggressively in front of officers. >> Hi, ma'am. How are you? >> Good. I'm officer Garza with Newport Police Department. >> Nice. Nice to meet you. >> Okay. Can I have you hang up the phone? >> Yeah, I'm just >> No, I mean No. >> That was rude, but okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. You're welcome. >> Okay. Have you had anything to drink tonight? >> No, ma'am. >> Hey, any intoxicating uh I don't know, substances? >> No, ma'am. >> Compressed air. Are you on any prescription medication? Anything like that? >> No, ma'am. >> Okay. So, the reason I'm asking this is there's been multiple calls about your driving. the other opposite side. >> Okay. >> So, I got very turned around in the uh in the fog, like confused and and kind of worried about it for a minute. Um especially cuz I'm obviously low on gas. Actually, I'm I need to get gas. So, I was kind of panicking for a bit for sure. >> Okay. How many kiddos you got back there? >> One. >> Just one? >> Just one? Okay. >> Yeah. Thanks. >> I've got little ones. So >> officers questioned the [music] driver, but she denied alcohol use, explaining that she had been lost in the fog for 45 minutes and panicked because her vehicle was running out of fuel. >> Wow, your window tent is really dark. [laughter] >> Hard to see. >> We're not talking about my kids right now. So I got my body camera on just to let you know. Okay, >> cool. >> So what you where did you start out tonight? >> What do you mean? >> Like where are you coming from? >> My mom's house. >> Okay. Okay. Where does she I don't know who your mom is? Newport. >> In Newport. Okay. And then you were headed which direction? >> I was trying to go home and lane, but I got turned around in the fog and I ended up actually I was driving for about 45 minutes that I was so turned around in the fog and I got actually I didn't even know I was back in Newport until I saw the coffee cup over there and I was like, "Oh my god." And then I realized I had got to get gas. Yeah. So I was in a little bit of a panic mode for sure. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> Um do you mind stepping out of the vehicle with me? >> Um I do. So, I took my shoes off. I will find them really quick. >> Okay. >> I know that sounds weird, but I have no shoes on. I I know, baby. I know. I'm sorry. They're not nice. I'll be back in a minute. >> Everything's okay. >> Talk to my daughter. >> I'm sorry. We normally try to take care of children, so >> but I am actually very protective and I've had a lot of people that are not nice to my daughter. So, like, and I understand you're coping yourself on. >> Nope. We're here now, so we might as well. I mean, they're in there and I can find them, but I don't reach very well, so that's why I was Yeah. >> Okay. >> I can try to grab your shoes. >> Wait, I I just kind of wet, so I don't want your socks super soaked. >> Thanks. >> Okay. So, if you want to step on back here to the front of the stairs, right? >> Maybe. I will be right back. >> We can have someone kind of stand here so that if she really starts Thank you. She's not going to know any of you, so that would be bad. >> I didn't say that I would have anybody in there with her, but we'll have someone stand by the front here. Okay. >> Go ahead and have a >> I mean, I get what you guys are doing is I I understand I understand what you guys are doing, but don't be mean to me about it. It's not cool. Go ahead. Sorry. What can we do next? >> Okay. So, uh, next thing we're going to do is called the walk and turn. What I'm going to have you do is stand with both feet together, heel to heel, toe to toe, arms out of your pockets and down at your sides. Okay? >> Just imagine if there was a a line here. Okay? Whenever you're ready. 1 2 3 socks up four. >> Oh god. Okay. I'm sorry. >> Would you like us to get your >> No, I just Well, I understand that. But you have shoes in the truck, right? >> Yeah. >> Can we get them out for you? >> We'll do this truck. 1 100 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 100 5 1 >> Arms down at your side. >> 700 9 1,000 10 1,000 11,000 12 Sorry. 12,000 15,000 14,000 15,000 21 22 23 >> Don't fall over. Okay. I don't want you to fall over. >> My nose My toes are numb. I'm sorry. 23. Sorry. >> Okay. You're fine. I don't want you to have an accident. >> I do the other foot. >> Nope. We're good. So, I'm going to have Do you mind just standing up here with her for a quick second? Okay. >> Can we get your Can we get your shoes out for you? >> You want your shoes? >> I will grab for you. >> I will. >> Can I grab them or are you guys against that? >> That would probably be better than We can't have you back in the vehicle right now, ma'am. Okay. During field sobriety tests, [music] she failed to meet requirements showing loss of balance, incorrect timing, and inability to maintain [music] position, leading officers to proceed with a breath test. However, she repeatedly [music] blew incorrectly, preventing the device from registering results after multiple attempts. She's pretty salty. She just um HGN present failed walk and turn failed one leg stand. Um I can smell alcohol when it blows the right direction. So just doing one of these if she'll cooperate. But if not, either way, we're going to go on this at this point, just based on SFSTs. You don't want to stand on the blanket? >> Nothing. >> Okay. Your feet were super cold, though. >> They're frozen right now. >> Okay. So, do you want to stand where it's warmer? >> They're already frozen. >> Okay. >> I just want her to leave my daughter alone. >> Have you um taken a portable breath test before? >> Uh yes, I am. Yeah, sure. >> Okay. Are you willing to take one now? >> Do I have to? It's >> it's that or my It's that or my license get revoked, right? >> Yeah. It's your It's your choice. So, do you do you want to take it? >> I'd rather not, but you're going to make me. >> Well, I'm You can >> I'd rather not, but you're going to make me. >> Okay. >> It's your choice, not mine. So, sure. >> Okay. So, you know, big deep breath in, wrap your mouth around the straw, and blow out strong. She's saying blow high. So, so try not to blow so hard apparently. I know there it's an instrument, not a So, deep breath in and just steady breath out. Okay. Okay. You're blowing too hard is the problem. It's what it's telling me. High flow, which just means it's too much air going through it too fast. So, we can try it one more time. Okay. >> Just smooth and steady out. All right. That's all we're looking for. Okay. Are you ready? Yep. Keep going. You can't You can't suck in air. I'm sorry. >> Come on. I >> Okay. >> Despite the inability [music] to obtain a breath reading due to improper attempts based on the totality of observed signs, officers determined [music] she was beyond a safe level of sobriety and placed her under arrest for [music] DUI, at which point her behavior shifted and became increasingly unstable. So, at this point, you're under arrest for DUI. >> I understand that what you're waiting for. Can I see my daughter, please? >> You're not a mom. You guys aren't parents. Like, that's my daughter. She's freaking out in the car. >> Okay. Let me read you this and then we can chat about that. All right. >> You got a kid. >> Okay. You have the right to have a daughter. Anything you can say? >> That's my daughter. >> That's my daughter. It's time to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while I understand is that's my daughter before. >> She's freaking out and none of you care. That's what's going on. That's my daughter in the back. The only thing I give a about is my daughter in the car. The only thing I give a about is my daughter in the car. The only thing I give a about is my daughter in the car. Let me at least say goodbye to her. I'm freaking out. Are you seriously? She's fre She's already freaking out. She's already freaking out. Another up mother. You're a mother. >> Is there another guardian of the child that we can contact? >> Okay, I'll call CPS. >> Oh [ __ ] I hope your daughter dies. >> Is there another guardian? >> [ __ ] You don't even have my phone or nothing. That's my daughter in there. That's my daughter. I did nothing wrong. I haven't done a damn thing wrong. I've been nice to you. That's my daughter and she's freaking out. You piece of [ __ ] >> Make sure there's nothing in that. I'll find the kitchen. >> Is there another parent or guardian I can contact for your daughter so that she doesn't have to go with strangers? >> My phone and I'll tell you. >> The answer is yes or no. >> Yes. Give me my phone so I can call her parent. My daughter's freaking out in the car. >> Bring it down a notch and I'd be happy to work with you. The subject lost [music] control, yelling and cursing at a female officer, even directing insults toward the [music] officer's children while repeatedly demanding to see her own child inside the vehicle. >> Out of your truck with your permission. Okay. >> I want my daughter. >> Okay. She previously gave me permission on camera. So, I'm going to get her phone out so we can call dad. >> Hi. Hi. Are we sure this isn't another child? >> That's what I was trying to see. >> Is this Is this a little brother? Do you have a baby over here? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> There's something over there, too. >> No, I know. I just saw the hood of the top here. Okay. I went in. I got the phone and only the phone. How do I open it up so you can get the number? >> I don't know. You have to hand me it to me so I can do it. >> Is it face recognition? >> No, it's not. >> Okay, so you can type it in. >> Hand it to me and I'll do it. >> This isn't a game over. >> I'm not trying to be shitty. Hand me my goddamn phone so I can call her dad to come get her. I love my daughter. I understand. I understand. I'm going to jail. I understand you want to be like really authoritative right now. So give me my phone. I'll open it up and in front of you. I'm not going to do anything crazy. Let me call her dad so she can go home and be happy. That's all I care about. >> Okay. >> Do you understand that you don't have kids? Do you? >> Okay. Listen, >> sweetheart. I just want to call her dad. >> Open the passcode. You can tap it right there. Give me the phone. You're holding it. Put Put your passcode in. You're touching it right there. >> Give me the phone. It's right here. >> You can stand here in front of me and just want to get her dad. You You're so dumb. Really? Do you not know how phones work? >> Lower so he can talk to me. Lower. Dumb. You're dumb. >> Well, the other >> Well, I'm trying to help you. You're making this harder than it needs to be just cuz you're mean to me. the other. >> No, you're being I'm trying to fix this and you're you're making it harder just cuz you want to. Can you lower the phone so I don't have to hurt myself to do it? Cuz you don't care if I hurt myself to do it. Cuz you don't care about my daughter and you don't care about anything else. That's awesome. Can you just lower I just want to hit the phone button. Seriously, lower like look. And yeah, and my hand is right here. Oh my god. You're Can you hit the side button then? cuz you're kind of doing this on person just purpose just to be mean at this point. Lower it. I've done nothing to you. I can't hit the phone button. Like seriously, one seriously. >> We probably ought to call the on call CPS then and make sure they can get someone rolling. If we can't get a hold of anyone that's >> Let me put on messages. Let me put on CPS is going to come. A call has been forwarded to an automatic voicemail. >> Talk to her. This is >> After 7 to eight unsuccessful attempts to [music] contact her husband, officers were forced to shift strategy and contact child protective services CPS to ensure the [music] child's safety. While the mother continued yelling, resisting, and refusing to cooperate, disrupting the entire process at the scene. No, I think it's just a star 67 version where it's blocked. >> Let me at least see her. Don't be a jerk. >> Does he get another call? >> Yeah. >> Um I'm going to I'm going to need >> This is her dad and he will come get her. I just got to get in touch with her. Don't Don't put her in CPS. Don't put her in that. She will freak out. Sorry. >> I'm not yelling. I'm talking about my daughter. This is important. Perfect. Not. You're obviously no children. I don't know if you can have children or something, but you're obviously such an >> I'm done with that for a minute. I need to I need a breather. Do you want to try calling him once or do you want me? I can. I don't know. Oh, it's calling something. >> Um I don't even know. I don't have her. Um, her name. >> Yeah, >> I'd have to look. >> All of it. >> If your daughter dies, >> your kids are going to pay for your [ __ ] >> Say, >> but you can't have kids, can you? >> You can't have kids. >> Listen, >> if you want to give me the name of someone so she doesn't have to go to CPS right now, >> you care. >> This is our option. >> I don't care. IC then MCPS it is. Do you want me to get your wallet out of the car or not? >> I want my phone and my wallet and my daughter. >> So, where is your wallet at in your car? >> Take me over and I'll show you. >> No. Where is it? >> I want to see my daughter. >> Okay. She's not cooperating at all. So, I've got her phone. >> You want to see my daughter? I'm not cooperating. >> Um, do you have any luck reaching that number? During transport to the station, [music] she continued to be out of control, yelling and resisting before suddenly slamming her head against the partition inside the patrol vehicle, causing a head injury. At the police station, she remained non-compliant, [music] refusing to complete procedures unless she was allowed to wear glasses repeatedly demanding explanations for her arrest despite [music] already being informed. And throughout the process, she appeared unable to process information, [music] forcing officers to repeat instructions multiple times without success. When asked to complete an official breath test, [music] she hesitated repeatedly and requested repeated explanations before finally agreeing. >> Are you willing to sign here? The thought was red to you. >> My glasses on. >> Okay. Your glasses are not an option at this point. Okay. Reading a contract I'm going to sign is what's going to happen. I'm not building I can't read. Are you going to submit to a breath test? >> I already did. >> No, we did a PBT in the field >> which you were unable to complete. >> You did it three times. That's why you >> which you were unable to complete. >> So why did you arrest me? >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. We'll cover all We'll cover all this in court. Are you going to submit to a breath test? Yes or no? Refused. >> That's not what I said. I'm asking you what grounds you arrested me on. If that'd ma'am, it's a breath. No, I you put me through a de Let me understand this. Am I not >> I'm not I'm not going to sit here. We'll talk about a new arrest. >> Are you going to take the breath test? >> Why did you arrest What grounds did you arrest me on? >> I'm confused. I'm just trying to >> do you want to take the breath test or not? >> If I don't. >> I just read you. >> I can't read anything. Say you your license can be suspended. >> I did not see this. Read it to me again and explain it to me. I'm confused. Do you count this as anything other than a refusal at this point? >> It is a refusal. I mean, for sure. >> I'm not refusing anything. I want you to explain it to me. >> I read you in its entirety stages that states if you refuse the breath test, your license can be suspended, revoked, or denied. >> Wow. Just give me the breath test. >> So, for the third time, I will ask, are you going to take >> So, for the fourth time, I'll do a breath test. So, you basically had no reason to arrest me is what you're saying. I didn't complete a breath test. Isn't I'm confused. >> You can try once. So what it is for legal purposes. So they they attempted to >> do the the PBT which is right. No, we did we did made a big thing about it. Yeah. Okay. >> So right now we've got this right here which what it's going to do is you're going to you're going to blow into the >> the mouthpiece for the machine. No, it's it's two different things. >> This is two different things. Yeah. This this is >> this is a scientific instrument. That's a portable breath test. >> Okay. So, explain to me why I got arrested if the breath test out there showed something. >> The breath test didn't show anything, but it didn't show anything. >> My understanding failed. I was not out there. >> Well, but he can't answer. Ma'am, he listen. Legally, legally, he wasn't there. He can't answer that question. Your breath. I'm asking for an answer. I understand he wasn't there. >> No, but I mean in a court of law. >> I appreciate it. >> You were unable to submit a breath sample on the side of the road properly. It didn't it me after the surgery >> because I have probable cause for DUI. So, do you want to submit for the breath test or not? >> Probable cause. >> Yes, I mentioned that. I'm just trying to we don't talk about this right now. We don't have to have this whole conversation. I have probable cause. >> You think you're authority you guys want to treat her head while you're here? They're here to treat your head. So, we'll do that first. Yeah, let's do that first. And while we're doing that, can you continue explaining to me? >> Don't explain anything on the roadside or anything else pretty much. >> But I'm confused. If you did test out, >> we're done. We're done talking. Cuz listen, nothing I'm saying. You're not Yeah. Apparently in here, I have to be because you're not processing anything that you're being told. That's right. I'm not processing the fact that you did three chest. >> This is what happens when you're this intoxicated, man. We have some of the guys draw >> following the invest. investigation, the [music] driver was charged with driving under the influence, DUI, and reckless endangerment for operating a vehicle in an impaired state with a [music] young child in the back seat. Under Washington law, reckless endangerment carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in [music] jail and a $5,000 fine, concluding a case marked by prolonged pattern of loss of control [music] from initial contact through processing at the