Kaufman County District Attorney Rick Harrison is scheduled to appear in Dallas County’s Criminal Court # 6 on August 6th, 2009 to face charges related to his arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated on June 18th after he was in a two-vehicle accident. The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office has charged Mr. Harrison with driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction.

The affidavit filed with the arrest warrant sheds more light on the situation, which was originally reported in the Dallas Morning News, discussed on the 20PM Forney Discussion Forum and further reported in this previous article on 20PM. According to the affidavit, the police officer who responded to the accident arrived on scene soon after midnight and reported that Harrison’s “body was swaying” and he “had red bloodshot and watering eyes”. The officer asked Harrison if he had been drinking and Harrison initially denied that he had, stating that he simply “was going this way and her car hit me”. However, the affidavit reports that the officer “could smell a distinctive odor of an alcoholic beverage” coming from Harrison, so he asked Harrison again if he had been drinking. This time, Harrison responded by saying “not very much”. Under continued questioning, Harrison finally stated that he had consumed four beers in the previous four hours.

The affidavit continues, stating the officer then asked Harrison to stand, at which time Harrison fell backward and displayed what the officer reported to be unsteady balance and used his vehicle for support. At that time, the police officer handcuffed Harrison and took him into custody. While in custody at the Dallas County Jail, Harrison refused all Intoxilyzer and other tests for blood alcohol level. He was then transported to the Seagoville Jail and released on bond.

Harrison’s defense attorney declined to comment, stating simply that Harrison “expects to receive no special treatment”. The Dallas County DA’s office also declined to comment. Harrison has released a number of statements to local media in the past, initially stating in part, “I can only say I am sorry that I let you down. You deserve better from me. Someone in law enforcement is and should be held to a higher standard.” Harrison’s most recent statement says in part, “I intend to do what is best for the county. I will not step aside so some fringe group within the party can hand pick whom they want for DA, attempt to get that person rubber-stamped by the Governor’s selection committee before the March primaries, and bypass the election process the people of Kaufman County are entitled to.”

Harrison is charged with driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction due to the guilty plea he entered on November 10th, 1995 before Dallas County Criminal Court # 2 on the charge of driving while intoxicated. The charges in that case stem from an arrest in December 1994 after Harrison, who was serving as an assistant district attorney in Dallas County at the time, led sheriff’s deputies on a short chase in Mesquite. Harrison resigned from his position in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office after that incident.

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