Newly released police video shows prominent New Mexico State Representative Monica Youngblood trying to talk her way out of a recent DWI arrest.
Youngblood is now facing an aggravated DWI charge after Albuquerque Police arrested her around 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Youngblood was stopped by police at a DWI checkpoint on Paseo del Norte.
Police lapel camera video shows Youngblood made a point of saying who she is, and what she’s done for police as a lawmaker over the years.
The recording begins shortly after an officer gave Youngblood an initial eye test as she sat in the driver’s seat of her car.
Within about 15 minutes of officers stopping her at the checkpoint, an APD officer arrested Youngblood who appeared as if she couldn’t believe what was happening.
“I need to place you under arrest for DWI, so go ahead and turn around,” said the officer.
Youngblood replied, “No-no-no, no-no-no!” while denying that she had anything to drink.
Before her arrest, Youngblood kept to her story that she didn’t have anything to drink. However, in the criminal complaint, the officer said he smelled alcohol on her.
When asked where she was coming from, Youngblood didn’t specify.
“My boyfriend and I got in a fight. So I am coming home,” said Youngblood.
During field sobriety tests, video shows Youngblood stumbled several times while often mentioning that she was cold.
About ten minutes after she was pulled over, Youngblood let the officer know what she did for the state.
“What level of education do you have?” the officer asked.
Youngblood replied, “I have a high school diploma, plus a real estate license, plus, I’m a state rep.”
Youngblood, who took her position in the House of Representatives in 2013, has become a prominent member of New Mexico’s Republican party. Known for being tough on crime, Youngblood co-sponsored a bill in 2015 to keep drivers arrested for aggravated DWI behind bars until they see a judge.
In the 2018 session, she voted for a bill to allow police to get blood draws from suspected drunk drivers who refuse to take a breathalyzer test — a test she herself refused to take.
The officer eventually arrested Youngblood, saying she performed “poorly” on field sobriety tests.
In the back of a police car, Youngblood asked the officer several times, “are you kidding me?”
The officer responded, “I don’t have a reason to joke with you.”
Youngblood also made sure to tell officers about how she saw the work she did.
“I literally fight for you guys every time I get the chance,” said Youngblood.
“Well that doesn’t make it okay for you to drink and drive,” the officer responded.
Youngblood was charged with aggravated DWI because she refused to take the breath test.
Had her 2015 bill passed, Youngblood would have had to sit in jail for more than 24 hours to wait for a judge to let her out. Instead, she was in and out of jail in about four hours