UPDATE, 3:08 p.m.: Freshman state Rep. Victoria Neave has released a statement regarding her arrest.
Statement of Representative Victoria Neave
Last night, I disappointed my family, my constituents and my supporters. I disappointed myself. I am so grateful that no one was hurt. I am deeply sorry, and will accept the consequences of my actions, and will work to make this right.
Posted by Victoria Neave for Texas State Representative on Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Freshman state Rep. Victoria Neave, the Democrat who represents swaths of East Dallas as well as Mesquite and Garland, was arrested in Lakewood overnight on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. WFAA-TV first reported the arrest, citing sources who told crime reporter Rebecca Lopez that Neave crashed into a tree at La Vista Drive and Abrams.
Jail records show she was booked into Lew Sterrett at 3:38 a.m. Officers arrived on scene at 11:57 p.m. to find her BMW Z4 damaged. The warrant affidavit alleges that she slurred to officers, saying, “I love you and I will fight for you but I’m invoking my 5th Amendment rights.” Neave “stated this over and over.” The warrant says her eyes were bloodshot, she had a “strong” odor of alcohol on her breath, and her speech was slurred. She refused both breath tests and field sobriety tests.
An attorney by trade, Neave built quite a following for herself in her first legislative session, both in Austin and back in Dallas. She was the organizer of the Dallas Women’s March, which saw thousands march through downtown onto East Dallas. She protested the sanctuary city bill known as SB 4 by fasting.
She also secured bipartisan support—rare for a freshman representative—for the first bill she’d ever authored, which solicited donations from Texans getting their licenses renewed to help offset the cost of chipping away at the state’s rape kit backlog. Apparently, 4,000 remain untested across Texas. The Texas House Democratic Caucus rewarded her by naming her freshman of the year.
Jail records show that her bond has been set at $500. We’ve emailed her chief of staff for comment. Here’s the search warrant affidavit:
Neave DWI Arrest by goodmoine on Scribd
