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Dallas County Prosecutor Asked Officer Not to Arrest Her for DWI Because They Were Facebook Friends

Dallas County assistant district attorney Leah Lucius has been suspended without pay after being arrested on a suspicion of drunken-driving charge early Saturday.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Lucius, 39, crashed into a tree and a fence not far from her home just after midnight. Police said she was disoriented and smelled of alcohol when she handed over her concealed handgun license after being asked for her driver's license. Officers noticed she was unsteady and was leaning on her car for balance.

Police said Lucius' speech was slurred when she described the crash, saying someone came into her lane, causing her to run over the road and hit a tree along the 1600 block of Breezewood Drive. There were no other cars or drivers listed in the arrest affidavit.

While talking with police, officers said Lucius gave a partial, incorrect phone number and said she'd had a couple of glasses of wine over a five-hour period. According to the affidavit, she then asked officer Bobby Watkins, "Bobby can you give me a break, we are Facebook friends." He replied that everything was being videotaped and recorded and that there was nothing he could do.

Lucius was asked to perform a number of field sobriety tests, including walking, standing on one leg and reciting the alphabet, according to police she refused every one.

Police said Lucius was then placed under arrest and taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital where her blood was drawn after officers secured a warrant.

Dallas police said Lucius was advised that once she was discharged from Parkland she needed to surrender to authorities. As of 3:30 p.m., Monday, Lucius has not surrendered, police said.

Elizabeth Saab, a spokeswoman for the office of Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson, released the following statement Monday: “We are aware of the arrest that occurred over the weekend. Ms. Lucius has been suspended until the investigation into her arrest is complete. We will make no further comment at this time."

NBC 5 has learned Lucius' suspension from the DA's office is without pay.

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