'Double the legal limit': Democrat Assemblymember, L.A. council candidate arrested on suspected DUI

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State Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, who is running for a hotly contested
Eastside seat on the Los Angeles City Council, was arrested early Friday
morning on suspicion of drunk driving after crashing her car and testing
more than twice the state’s alcohol limit for being behind the wheel,
police said.

Police responded around 1:30 a.m. to the 6200 block of Monterey Road in
Northeast Los Angeles, where a motorist had a collision with two parked
cars, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the incident who
was not authorized to speak publicly about it and requested anonymity.

Carrillo, 43, was booked at around 4 a.m. on suspicion of driving under
the influence and being involved in a traffic collision while having a
high blood-alcohol count, according to a summary of the arrest provided by
LAPD Capt. Kelly Muniz.

Having a high blood-alcohol count indicates the suspect’s alcohol level
was “double the legal limit or more,” Muniz said.

In a cellphone video obtained by Fox11 from the owner of one of the cars
she allegedly hit, Carrillo appears to slur her speech and briefly lose
her balance as two officers conduct a field sobriety test. “I’m sorry, I
sneezed and lost [control] of the vehicle,” she tells the officers.

Before the test is completed, one of the officers explains to bystanders
“in the interest of transparency” that the LAPD has a policy that allows
for this type of investigation to be conducted in a private location when
a dignitary or elected official is involved.

“It does not change the fact that she has been drinking, and she has been
involved in a crash,” the officer says.

The LAPD released a statement saying that it was aware of the Fox report.
“Chief Moore directed the local command to review the officers’ body worn
video regarding the officers’ action and at this point the officer’s
actions do not appear to be inappropriate,” according to the statement.

“A critical aspect of a field sobriety test is to provide a reasonable
location for the individual being examined to evaluate impairment without
obstruction or distraction,” the statement continued. “The officers
conducting the investigation are given the discretion to perform the test
at a location that best affords the evaluation of the individuals in an
objective manner.”

One witness at the scene of the car crash said he heard a loud bang just
as the collision occurred. The 32-year-old witness, who said he had been
visiting a friend on Monterey Road, told The Times he went out to the
street and saw Carrillo and her car, which had its airbags deployed.

Carrillo’s car had struck another car, which then hit his, said the
witness, who declined to provide his name out of privacy concerns. The man
said he spoke with Carrillo, then called 911. “She had very slurred speech
and was very disoriented,” the witness said.

Carrillo, approached by The Times on Friday afternoon as she emerged from
the LAPD’s Metropolitan Detention Center, declined to say whether she had
been driving drunk. She also would not say where she had been before the
crash, or whether she intends to remain in the council race. She said she
had not been arrested for DUI previously.

In a statement issued by her office, Carrillo expressed thanks that no one
was harmed in the crash and said she is cooperating with law enforcement.

“As a public servant, I am aware that I must adhere to a higher standard
that demands personal accountability for my conduct and I accept
responsibility for my actions,” she said. “I sincerely apologize to my
family, constituents, colleagues and staff for any actions of mine that
have fallen short of that expectation. I intend to seek the necessary help
and support.”

If Carrillo is charged and convicted, the consequences could be more
severe than a typical DUI, since it involved a collision and high blood-
alcohol content, said Lara Yeretsian, a criminal law attorney.

“Does that mean she’s going to serve time? Most likely not,” Yeretsian
said. “However, she may have to complete a longer first-time DUI offender
program and have more terms and conditions of probation.”

Carrillo, who worked at one point for former Councilmember Jose Huizar,
was elected in 2017 to represent an Eastside Assembly district. She is now
one of about a dozen people running in the March city election to unseat
Councilmember Kevin de León in a district that stretches from downtown to
Boyle Heights, El Sereno and Eagle Rock.

Her arrest comes about six months after another state legislator was
arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. In May, state Sen. Dave Min (D-
Irvine) was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and released from
Sacramento County jail.

Min later confirmed that he was cited with a misdemeanor DUI, saying his
behavior was “irresponsible.” He is now running for Congress in an Orange
County district where Republicans are expected to spend heavily.

Riverside City Councilmember and Assembly candidate Clarissa Cervantes
also was arrested this summer on suspicion of driving under the influence,
weeks after having a prior DUI conviction dismissed in court.

Those incidents prompted Assemblymember Bill Essayli, a Republican
representing Riverside, to introduce a bill to temporarily prohibit state
lawmakers convicted of driving under the influence from being able to
operate state pool cars while they are in Sacramento.

The proposal was rejected during a procedural vote in the Assembly, where
Democrats hold a supermajority. Essayli, who plans to reintroduce the
measure next year, called on Carrillo to resign and said she should, at
minimum, have her privileges to use state cars revoked.

Friday’s arrest has introduced a new incendiary element to the race to
represent Council District 14, which covers a portion of the Eastside.
Boyle Heights resident Nadine Diaz, a geriatric social worker who is
running for the seat, said in an interview that she believes Carrillo
needs to pull out of the contest.

“Obviously she needs help,” said Diaz, who previously ran for the council
seat in 2015. “It’s unfortunate what happened to her, but she should drop
out and take care of the situation and her well-being.”

Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) had no comment on
Carrillo’s legal woes.

De León, who faced widespread calls to step down in the wake of last
year’s audio scandal, declined to say whether Carrillo should exit the
race.

“I’m just glad everyone is safe and no one was hurt,” he said in a
statement.

A representative of Ysabel Jurado, a tenants’ rights advocate who also is
running, said voters can decide whom they trust to represent the district.

“Ysabel isn’t interested in carceral cancel culture,” said Jurado
spokesperson Anna Bahr. “She believes in accountability.”

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-03/assembly-member-wendy-
carrillo-arrested-on-suspicion-of-drunk-driving