Video: Arizona Lawmaker Arrested After Testy Exchange With State Troopers
Representative David Cook (R) argued with Arizona Department of Public Safety officers during his arrest for extreme DUI on December 19 and failed to follow instructions during field sobriety tests, newly released dashcam video shows.
Cook lost two of his committee assignments on Friday, including his seat on the House Public Safety Committee, after the House speaker-elect viewed the video of his arrest and talked to Cook.
An incident report released by DPS on Thursday described how Cook told one officer, "You're making a mistake," and initially handed over his House I.D. card when asked for his driver's license. In a statement of apology posted to Facebook, Cook denied that he tried to get special treatment because he is a lawmaker.
In the video, an argumentative and hard-to-understand Cook appears to be annoyed with one officer. At one point, while an officer asks him to complete a sobriety test, the lawmaker complains at length about how he wasn't being able to retrieve a jacket from his car earlier despite the cold weather. In the video, he is already wearing a jacket.
Read more: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/video-shows-arizona-lawmaker-david-cooks-arrest-11079806