Post by WaTcHeR on Nov 20, 2006 13:12:38 GMT -5
11.20.2006 - TEXAS - Secret Service agents are investigating an incident Monday night in which an off-duty Dallas police officer, who may have been drinking, crashed into a barricade in a restricted part of Love Field just after President Bush had departed aboard Air Force One. Minutes later, the Officer Noemy Zavala Perez, a six-year department veteran assigned to the southeast patrol division, was arrested in Carrollton on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after she tried to drive through a police barricade there. She was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
Mr. Bush was in Dallas on Monday night for a Republican rally at Reunion Arena. He left Dallas shortly after 8 p.m., officials said. At 8:15 p.m., an airport employee heard a crash and saw an SUV, later determined to be driven by Officer Perez, leaving a roadway leading to a runway, according to a police report. At 8:27 p.m., about 10 miles to the north, Officer Perez ended up in the 1600 block of Kelly Boulevard in Carrollton. Sgt. Pat Murphy, a Carrollton police spokesman, said that Officer Perez, who was not in uniform and was in her private vehicle, drove around a police barricade set up to protect firefighters working a blaze in the area. Police stopped Officer Perez and arrested her. Secret Service officials contacted both Dallas and Carrollton police but had not yet spoken to Officer Perez. I think this was coincidental, said Bill Flowers, assistant special agent in charge of the Dallas Secret Service office. It wasn't related to our visit, but we will do a thorough investigation.
Mr. Bush was in Dallas on Monday night for a Republican rally at Reunion Arena. He left Dallas shortly after 8 p.m., officials said. At 8:15 p.m., an airport employee heard a crash and saw an SUV, later determined to be driven by Officer Perez, leaving a roadway leading to a runway, according to a police report. At 8:27 p.m., about 10 miles to the north, Officer Perez ended up in the 1600 block of Kelly Boulevard in Carrollton. Sgt. Pat Murphy, a Carrollton police spokesman, said that Officer Perez, who was not in uniform and was in her private vehicle, drove around a police barricade set up to protect firefighters working a blaze in the area. Police stopped Officer Perez and arrested her. Secret Service officials contacted both Dallas and Carrollton police but had not yet spoken to Officer Perez. I think this was coincidental, said Bill Flowers, assistant special agent in charge of the Dallas Secret Service office. It wasn't related to our visit, but we will do a thorough investigation.