CHP Releases Dash Cam Video of Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe DUI Arrest

The California Highway Patrol has released its dash cam video of Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe being arrested on March 19 for DUI. The 48-minute video was made available under a California Public Records Request.

According to the 8-page arrest report, Thorpe was pulled over by CHP Officer Dagnino and was administered a field sobriety test along with a blood-alcohol test. At 2:13 am, Thorpe blew a blood-alcohol of .121 and again at 2:19 am a .124.  Thorpe also lied to the CHP officer telling him he was on his way home from dinner and said he thad nothing to drink—while wearing a white Michelob Ultra wristband around his right wrist.

After the arrest, Thorpe took to social media the next morning saying he only had 1 drink with his dinner. He later plead no contest to two misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence.

Here is the video in full, 48-minutes long.

According to the judgement:

• Two-Days in jail – he got credit for 1 day served and his other day will be through the County Sheriff’s Custody Alternative Facility
• Thorpe was placed on three years of probation
• Ordered to pay fines for DUI violations and court fees
• Attend a DUI program for three-months.
• $1,749 in fines.

Note – with Thorpe being stopped at 1:10 am and not performing a blood alcohol test until 2:13 and 2:19 pm, his blood alcohol level was higher when he was driving as the chart says subtract .01% for each 40-minutes lapse between drinks. Its also unclear when Thorpe had his last drink before driving.  One can assume he had at least three drinks before driving.

The following image is by the California DMV on Alcohol and Driving.

 

Here is a transcript from the 8-Page CHP report from the Lamar Thorpe Arrest:

Observation Prior to Contact

On 3/19/2022 at approximately 0110 hours, I was on patrol, in full CHP uniform, driving a fully marked black and white CHP patrol vehicle, with my partner Officer J. Del Rosario #22568 (passenger). On the date and time mentioned, I was traveling northbound on I-680, just south of Monument boulevard within the #4 lane, monitoring traffic. Traffic was moderately light, and I observed a silver SUV just ahead of my location, within the #5 lane, that was struggling to maintain its center lane position. I accelerated my patrol vehicle and positioned it directly behind the silver SUV, now identified as a silver Volvo with a California license plate of (redacted) and continued to monitor the Volvo’s driving behavior. While monitoring the Volvo’s driving behavior, I observed the Volvo continue to struggle to maintain a center lane position, by crossing over the broken white lane divider line on left side and the solid white line on the right side. The Volvo was also traveling at approximately 59 MPH in a posted 65 MPH zone.

After observing the Volvo’s driving behavior, I activated my patrol vehicle’s emergency CODE 3 lights and initiated an enforcement stop on the Volvo. The driver of the Volvo applied the brakes and began to pull to the right shoulder on SR-242 northbound, just north of the I-680 transition. Using the patrol vehicle loudspeaker (PA) my partner began to instruct the driver of the Volvo to exit at the Clayton Road exit. The driver of the Volvo continued to drive on the shoulder of SR-242, until my partner directed the Volvo to turn right onto Market Street and pull to the right curb edge, just south of Clayton Road. The Volvo followed instructions given by my partner and pulled to the right curb edge, just south of Clayton Road and Market Street intersection. I parked directly behind the Volvo, exited my patrol vehicle and made a passenger side approach of the Volvo.

Observation Upon Contact (transcript per CHP Officer)

I contacted the driver, who was the only occupant in the vehicle, through a lowered passenger window and immediately detected the odor of an alcohol beverage emitting from within the Volvo. I advised the driver for the reason of the stop and asked for his license, registration, and insurance. The driver provided me with a California Driver License and was positively identified as Lamar Anthony Thorpe with a date of birth of 04/06/81 and (redacted).

Upon contact, Lamar displayed objective signs and symptoms of intoxication; watery eyes, droopy eye lids and slurred speech. Lamar was also wearing a white Michelob Ultra wristband around his right wrist and related he was on his way home from dinner. I asked Lamar if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages prior to driving and he related he had nothing to drink. I directed Lamar to exit the vehicle and meet me near my patrol vehicle to answer a series of questions and perform a series of voluntary field sobriety tests. Lamar exited his vehicle and met me on the concrete sidewalk. While speaking with Lamar outside the vehicle, I could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath. I asked Lamar the remainder of the Pre-FST questions which he answered accordingly. I explained and demonstrated a series of Field Sobriety Tests to Lamar, which he did not complete as explained and demonstrated.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus

Lamar related he was wearing soft contact lenses. His eyes were watery, his pupils were equal, and he was able to track the tip of my finger with both eyes. He displayed the following:

• Lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes
• Distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes
• Onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in his right eye, at approximately 40 degrees
• Lack of convergence in his left eye.

 

Walk and Turn

During Walk and Turn, Lamar displayed the following:

• Lamar lost his balance during the instruction phrase. I instructed him to set back up in the starting position.
• Lamar used his arms for balance by raising them more than six inches from his sides.
• Stepped offline between steps 5 and 6, during the first set of steps
• Missed heel to toe contact by more than 1” between steps 3&4 of the first set.

 

One Leg Stand:

Lamar raised his left foot for the test, and he displayed the following:

• Swayed from center, left to right
• Used his arms for balance by raising them more than six inches from his sides.
• Put his foot down twice and was instructed to lift his foot and continue to test

 

Modified Rhomberg

Lamar was instructed to end the test once he reached an internal estimated count of thirty-seconds, he ended the test at fifty-two seconds.

• His eyes displayed tremors
• He swayed from center, front to back
• Lamar displayed a bouncing pulse in his neck

 

Full Report:

•  PDF of the 8-page CHP Arrest Report: Thorpe Report Redacted Final
• Note – CHP says video/dashcam would not be available for another 120-days.

Mayor Thorpe released the following statement on March 20, 2023:

Good Morning Antioch,

I wanted to come before you today because I wanted to share some personal news with you. Last night, after having dinner with a friend, I was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol and cited for driving under the influence. For that I take full responsibility.

Under the advice of counsel, I am limited in what I can share with you. But I felt it was important to be open and direct with you.

Although I never felt inhibited by the drink I had with my dinner and I am deeply sorry for the lapse in judgment and I hope you can forgive me.

Being your mayor has been one of the greatest honors of my life and I am sorry if I have embarrassed you in any way. You have my full commitment that I will grow and learn from this moment and will continue to work diligently for the residents of Antioch.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.

Previous Stories:

• Jan 20: Antioch Mayor Booked in Sheriff’s Office Custody Alternative Facility
  Dec 28: CHP Arrest Report Shows Antioch Mayor Had More Than 1 Drink
• Dec 13: Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe Pleads No Contest in DUI Offense
• May 20: Contra Costa County DA Charges Antioch Mayor for DUI
• May 20: Knox Campaign Blasts Contra Costa D.A. Diana Becton’s Failure to Act on Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe’s DUI
• March 21: Antioch Councilwoman Calls on Mayor Lamar Thorpe to Resign
• March 19: Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe Arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol