DIA Arrest After Win: Elect Krista Perez Cries in Police Car

A politician-elect weeping in the back of a police cruiser became the center of attention after her arrest for driving under the influence. The footage, captured on an officer's body camera and obtained by The Jason Rantz Show, shows Krista Perez sobbing and praying as she is processed at Tacoma Police headquarters.

Perez, a 40-year-old Democrat, was running for a seat in the Washington State House. She had just secured victory in the August 4 primary for Position 1 in the 29th Legislative District. Her opponent will be incumbent Representative Melanie Morgan in the November general election.

The trouble began shortly after midnight on August 11. Police say her vehicle allegedly struck a parked car, sparking a chain reaction that damaged five vehicles total. When an officer asked Perez if she had been involved in a crash, she told him she had not. She claimed to be returning from a friend's business on Tacoma Avenue South.

The officer then questioned whether she had consumed alcohol. Perez admitted to drinking one glass of wine while at the establishment. When pressed on the size of that drink, she replied she thought he would need to contact the business for details. On a scale from zero to ten with zero being sober, she rated her condition a four.

Signs were clear enough for an arrest anyway. Officers noted the smell of alcohol, mood swings, slurred speech, red eyes, and an unsteady gait in their report. Perez was confused about the situation, repeatedly stating she did not know what any of it meant. She asked if she had a choice during the process.

The officer explained that field sobriety tests were voluntary but mandatory to determine impairment. He listed them as yes or no options for her to decide on right then. Perez said she wanted to go home first and declined the test after three attempts at providing a breath sample failed before the machine timed out. An enhancement charge was added to her case because of that refusal.

Once inside the patrol car, her demeanor shifted completely. She began to cry and pray in Spanish. Her voice carried phrases like "Dios, ayúdame por favor" which translates to God help me please. She kept asking for help over and over again while being secured by officers.

Holy Spirit, help me, God." These were the desperate words attributed to Perez in her own statement before she ended up booked into Pierce County Jail. The Standard reported that this incident led to a release just six hours later. She now holds a job as a strategic partnerships manager within the state Department of Commerce following an unsuccessful bid for Tacoma City Council last year.

The specific legal trouble stemmed from what prosecutors called a refusal enhancement under Washington state law. That statute clarifies roadside sobriety tests are not mandatory, and walking away from them does not automatically trigger the charge in question. Yet, an arrest report obtained by the talk show claims Perez failed to provide a usable breath sample after three attempts at Tacoma Police headquarters before the machine timed out.

State rules do not bar anyone facing a DUI charge from holding legislative office. Perez's attorney, Bryan Hershman, told the Standard he wants everyone to keep their eyes on an important campaign rather than getting distracted by this incident. He noted that they are dealing with a standard DUI and not something as severe as felony murder.

"No matter what happens in this DUI case, there's still homeless people we need to get off the streets," Hershman said. "I hope we can stay focused on what's relevant." The Daily Mail has reached out to Hershman, Perez, and the City of Tacoma for comment regarding these latest developments.