New Mexico State Representative Monica Youngblood (R-Albuquerque) faces jail time, calls for her resignation, and other possible discipline in the wake of an aggravated DWI arrest last weekend. Youngblood was flagged by officers at an Albuquerque drunk driving checkpoint at around 1 a.m. Sunday morning, and failed a battery of field sobriety tests before being handcuffed.
According to the criminal complaint, an APD officer approached Youngblood's car and says he noticed her eyes were bloodshot, she smelled like alcohol, and her speech was slurred.
She told the officer she was on her way home from a friend's house and insisted to the officer multiple times, she did not have anything to drink.
Police say Youngblood did poorly on the field sobriety test and refused a breathalyzer test.
The checkpoint was held in the district Youngblood represents.
The video isn’t clear enough to determine whether the politician’s eyes struggled to follow the officer’s penlight in the initial exam, but even the most casual viewer will concede that Youngblood struggles with the balance challenges.
When asked about her education level, Youngblood, a realtor, sneaks in the fact that she is a state legislator.
She then fails to follow instructions on both the reverse counting test and alphabet recitation, counting down to one when she was told to stop at 32, and going all the way to “Z” after being told to stop at “R.” She seems triumphantly unaware of her errors as she finishes each feat.
At this point, the officer, identified as Joshua Montaño, explains that since she’s failed the test, she is going to be put under arrest and given a chance to take a Breathalyzer. After a mild protest from Youngblood, she’s cuffed and placed in the back of his police car, where she starts crying.
While Montaño types on his computer, Youngblood repeatedly asks to be uncuffed so she can wipe her tears away. When the officer says he can’t remove her restraints until they get to the booking trailer, she begins wailing about how she always stands up for police when people badmouth them and say they treat people of color “like shit.”
Youngblood: “I literally fight for you guys every time I get the chance.”
Montaño: ”That doesn’t make it okay to drink and drive.”
Youngblood: ”I fight for you guys every time I get the chance. Seriously. So many people tell me you guys treat people like shit and I didn’t believe it.”
Montaño: ”I’m not treating you poorly at all.”
Youngblood “It’s funny because you guys treat people of color like shit and I always stand up for you guys...I always stick up for you guys...I say ‘you know what? They wouldn’t be treated like shit if there wasn’t a reason.’”
It would seem that Youngblood, who is Hispanic, is conflating police brutality with her experience of being denied a tissue by Montaño.
The pair soon moves to a booking trailer nearby, where Youngblood is uncuffed long enough to wipe her face, and refuses to take a Breathalyzer test every single time she is asked.
Another detained woman attempts to calm Youngblood when she starts sniveling and raving about her police advocacy again, but the state representative will not be soothed.
Woman: “It’s okay, mama, it’s okay.”
Youngblood: ”No, no, no...they TOLD me, they told me...that they treat people of color like shit, but I’ve always been on their side.”
Woman: ”...it ain’t got nothing to do with people of color, mama. You made a mistake, you made a mistake, we own up to it, we move on. You made a mistake, own up to it and move on. It’s shitty, I ain’t denying that…
Youngblood: ”I’ve always been on their side...”
Woman: “They just doing their job. They just doing their job. That’s what they doing.”
Youngblood: “I’ve always been on their side.”
Woman: “And I’ll still stand on their side. You do wrong, you serve. It’s okay, crying about it ain’t gonna fix it. You do wrong, you do your shit, you do what you got to do and you move the fuck on. Be a big girl.”
Youngblood: ”I am a big girl.”
Youngblood continues to whine and sniff before the woman gives up and ends the conversation. After precious few moments without speaking, the politician again pesters Montaño to have her handcuffs removed. She touts her support of law enforcement, using sniffles and sobs as punctuation, until the video ends.
Youngblood: ”I’m not going anywhere, can you take these off?”
Montaño: “No, they have to stay on, Monica.”
Youngblood: ”I’m the one to defend you guys. I’ve run bills to protect you all. And I support them...make sure you guys are okay. Like, I’m the one to defend you guys when people say you are assholes and that you guys treat people of color like shit. I defend you all. I say that ‘there’s no way, you guys have a reason for treating people the way you do.’ Like, I’m the one that does that.”
Youngblood has held her seat since 2013 and is up for re-election this November, running unopposed in the June 5 primary on a reputation for being tough on crime, pro-law enforcement, and in particular, drunk driving. Though Youngblood was released on her own recognizance just a few hours after her arrest, legislation she pushed for in 2015 would have kept her in a cell until Monday.
The representative has supported legislation to toughen DWI-related penalties and, in 2015 she co-sponsored a bill that would have required people accused of aggravated DWI to pay a bond or stay in jail until appearing before a judge.
Luckily for the rising right-wing star, that bill failed to become law, so she was home in time for breakfast.
The release of the bodycam footage of the arrest, which is almost fifty minutes long, sparked bipartisan outcry on Tuesday, and New Mexico politicians were quick to call out Youngblood’s bad behavior.
(T)he Republican candidate for attorney general, Michael Hendricks, issued a statement on Tuesday calling on Youngblood to resign.
“It must be very clear that it does not matter who you are, no one is above the law,” Hendricks said. “Although, everyone is entitled to due process, the fact that Representative Youngblood refused the breath test would intimate something to hide.”
And on Tuesday night, the chairwoman of the state Democratic Party urged Attorney General Hector Balderas to investigate whether Youngblood attempted to use her position as a legislator to influence police.
“Rep. Youngblood was elected to use her position to help her constituents, not put them in harms way and then attempt to get out of an arrest by citing her legislative actions,” Marg Elliston said in a statement.
By Wednesday, the state Attorney General had announced an official review of the incident.
“Attorney General Hector Balderas is deeply concerned when any public official invokes their position during a criminal investigation, and therefore the Office of the Attorney General will appropriately review this matter,” James Hallinan, a spokesman for the Democratic attorney general, said in a statement.
The Attorney General’s Office is responsible for enforcing the state Governmental Conduct Act, which makes it a crime for public officials to use their offices to obtain personal benefits.
As of Thursday, members of her own party continue to speak out against her.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Pearce says Youngblood should look her constituents in the eye and decide how to proceed.
“DWI is a very serious problem in New Mexico and the law must be enforced without favoritism,” Pearce said. “Monica Youngblood needs to meet with her constituents, look them in the eye, and together decide what is right.”
In the days since, Youngblood has avoided the press and deactivated her social media accounts. Beyond a short statement released on Sunday, she and her attorney have offered no comment on her arrest.
"As a legislator, I have always taken drinking and driving seriously. While I regret the situation altogether, I most definitely regret not taking the breathalyzer test. I look forward to bringing this matter to a swift and just conclusion."
Watch the arrest video below for a lengthy dose of authoritative arrogance run amok.
If convicted, Youngblood faces steep punishment, beyond the potential impact to her political career.
In addition to the mandatory 48 hours in jail, those convicted of first-time aggravated DWI face up to 90 days in jail, along with possible fines and other penalties.