Democrat candidate seen sobbing, praying in patrol car after DUI arrest: Video
Tacoma Democrat Facing DUI Arrest After Midnight Collision
A Tacoma Democrat running for a seat in the Washington State House was arrested on a DUI charge following a midnight collision that damaged five vehicles on South G Street on August 11. The arrest, captured on police body‑camera footage, shows the candidate admitting to drinking wine, refusing field sobriety tests and crying in the back of a patrol car before the arrest.
Krista Perez, a Democrat who finished first in last month’s primary for the 29th Legislative District, Position 1, will face incumbent Rep. Melanie Morgan—also a Democrat—in the November general election. The two candidates advance to the general because Washington state’s top‑two primary system sends the highest‑scoring candidates from each party forward.
The Accident
According to an arrest report cited by a local crime‑focused show, Perez’s 2019 Chevrolet Silverado struck a parked car on South G Street shortly after midnight on August 11. The impact triggered a chain reaction that damaged five vehicles. Prosecutors say the crash was the result of a driver’s refusal enhancement in connection with a collision and a later encounter with police.
“Did you get into an accident here?” one officer asked the candidate. “I did not,” Perez replied, adding, “I don’t know. I’ve never been in an accident before.” The officer also asked if she had been drinking. “I just had some wine while I was there,” Perez said, and when asked how many glasses, she answered “one glass.”
When the officer inquired about her sobriety, the candidate rated herself a four on a zero‑to‑ten scale and insisted she wanted to go home. “I’d like to go home first,” she repeated, stating that she “didn’t know what any of this means.”
Refusal of Field Sobriety Tests
The officer explained that the field‑sobriety tests were optional. “You’re not going to go home first. I’m going to tell you that right now, okay? So your options between the test, yes or no, that’s going to be determined tonight, right now, not when you go home,” he said. Perez declined the tests, repeatedly saying she “was confused” and wanting to go home. She later was arrested for DUI and instructed to place her hands behind her back.
Under Washington state law, roadside sobriety tests are not required; declining them is distinct from the refusal enhancement prosecutors allege. The enhancement stems from later actions at Tacoma Police headquarters, where Perez reportedly did not provide a usable breath sample after three attempts before the machine timed out.
Inside the Patrol Car
Body‑camera footage of the patrol car’s interior shows Perez sobbing, praying and asking for help. “Help me, God. Help me. Holy Spirit, help me, God,” she said, crying for several minutes. The video also captures her earlier confusion, as she told an officer she “did not understand what was going on” and was “confused” about the arrest.
Legal and Political Context
Washington law does not bar a person charged with a DUI from serving in the legislature. The state has seen other lawmakers survive alcohol‑related incidents, including House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, who apologized after admitting to drinking before a committee hearing in February.
“I made a poor choice last night by drinking alcohol before we had finished our work for the day. I am disappointed in myself and take responsibility for that poor choice,” Fitzgibbon said in a statement. “It won’t happen again, and I’m committed to completing my work this session without alcohol.”
Current Status
Perez has been charged with DUI, and prosecutors have added a refusal enhancement for refusing a breath sample. The case is pending, and the outcome could impact her campaign for a state House seat. The candidate’s primary victory last month and the upcoming November election will be watched closely by voters and party leaders alike.
For now, the incident remains a reminder of how a single evening can alter the trajectory of a political campaign and raise questions about accountability and public trust.
