Previously I posted that former candidate for Travis County District Attorney, Mindy Montford was charged with public intoxication following an incident with Austin Police Department. After listening to music at a downtown club, Montford was in a vehicle driven by Noel Didear, a band member. Didear hit a pole in an alley and moved the car 10 feet. Police arriving at the scene elected to charge Didear with suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Texas, as well as leaving the scene of an accident for moving his vehicle.
Montford attempted to advise her friend of his rights though the officer ordered to her back to the car. She had been sitting in the car for 20 minutes when police said they were going to charge her and another passenger with public intoxication. The dashboard camera indicates that the officer did not perform any tests or investigate Montford for intoxication.
A Travis County Judge initially refused to sign the arrest warrant against Didear for DWI, finding no probable cause. A second judge did sign an arrest warrant though no formal charges have been filed to date.
The charge against Montford has since been dropped, though she has filed a formal complaint against the arresting officer Darryl Fulbright, citing damage to her reputation. Her defense attorney has asked the city attorney to make an independent evaluation of the arrest. Austin Police Department has indicated it will conduct an investigation which could take up to six months.
Related Article: Mindy Montford's friend re-arrested for DWI in Austin
