What Happened

Nearly six months after a former Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputy, Adrienne Seay, was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI), her charges have been dropped. The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s office decided not to prosecute the case due to insufficient evidence.

Background

During a DWI checkpoint conducted by the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) on New Year’s Day, Seay was stopped and arrested. However, the District Attorney’s office stated that officers lacked probable cause to stop her, leading to the decision to drop the charges.

Lack of Evidence

While reviewing the case, prosecutors found no evidence of erratic driving in the lapel video footage. They also noted that DWI checkpoints provide limited opportunities to assess a driver’s behavior thoroughly. Despite observations of slurred speech and bloodshot eyes in the officer’s report, the state argued that the camera angle prevented clear verification of these claims.

Field Sobriety Tests

Although Seay underwent field sobriety tests, such as the walk and turn and the one-leg stand, the state contended that poor camera quality hindered a definitive assessment of her performance. Seay’s ability to remove her high heels without losing balance and complete the tests barefoot further complicated the evaluation.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the State of New Mexico concluded that a hearing would likely find no probable cause in Seay’s case. Following the incident, Seay resigned from her position at the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.

KRQE News 13 reached out to NMSP for comment but did not receive a response.

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