State House candidate Krista Perez, who finished ahead in last week's primary for the District 29, Position 1 seat, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Tacoma on Tuesday.
Police responded to a collision shortly after midnight in the 3700 block of South G Street, where a driver crashed into four unoccupied parked cars, Tacoma police spokesperson Shelbie Boyd said.
While Boyd could not confirm the identity of the driver, she said they were taken to the hospital and later arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Perez, who is running as a Democrat in her South Tacoma district and challenged Democratic incumbent Melanie Morgan from the left, was booked into the Pierce County jail shortly after 7:30 a.m. on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, a gross misdemeanor. Her bail was set at $1,000, and she was released at about 1:30 p.m.
Perez has not been formally charged, and the circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear.
In the Aug. 4 primary, Perez received about 51% of the vote, ahead of Morgan's 49%.
Brian Hershman, an attorney representing Perez, told The Seattle Times in an email that he has advised Perez not to comment while she has not been formally charged, though she may comment at some point in the future.
Ms. Perez is embroiled in an important campaign regarding an important office," Hershman said. "Ms. Perez chooses, instead, to focus on the important issues that matter most to the families of this community, such as education, the homeless crisis, transportation, affordability, child care, and the like.
Perez is a business owner and author, according to her campaign website, and is running on a platform of support for working families, increased access to childcare and expanded affordable housing, among other priorities.
Seattle Red talk show host Jason Rantz first reported Perez’s arrest Thursday morning.
Seattle Times staff reporter Shauna Sowersby contributed to this report.
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