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UPDATE: Statement of Probable Cause
Jenni Monet, the award-winning journalist whose
reports and
insights about Native issues are among the
most widely read around the world, was arrested in New Mexico last week and charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest.
The incident occurred in Santa Fe on April 5. According to a police report, Monet -- whose surname is Monette -- was found inside her car in the parking lot of a liquor store.
"A DWI investigation was initiated due to an odor of alcohol coming from the suspects breath," the report reads. Monet "refused" to engage in a field sobriety test and "resisted deputies as they placed her in handcuffs."
"The suspect refused to submit to a breath test," the report continues.
Inmate details on Jenni Monet (Monette) from the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility.
But Monet, who is a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, is disputing the charges,
KRQE reports. She told the television station on Thursday that she was the victim of racial profiling.
"I am one of a majority of people who are victimized by this kind of racial profiling that exists on a daily basis," Monet told KRQE after an appearance at the
Institute of American Indian Arts, during which she
discussed the "Crisis in Covering Indian Country" in the morning.
Indianz.Com contacted IAIA, which is a tribal college operated by the federal government, on Wednesday after learning of the charges against Monet. No one from the institution returned a voice message or email about the incident.
"Neither was I drinking or driving at the time, and we're confident that the evidence that stands in my favor will vindicate me," Monet told KRQE, which obtained lapel video of the arrest, during which she accused deputies from the
Santa Fe Sheriff's Department of racial profiling and police brutality.
According to the station, the video confirms that Monet refused field sobriety tests in the parking lot of the Cliff's liquor store. "I'm not walking any f***ing line for you. You hear me? I am not walking any f***ing line for you," she told the officers, KRQE reported.
As she was being arrested, she yelled at the deputies: "You f***ing fat-fingered f***!" and "You f***ing racist motherf***er. You f***ing white supremacist!" the station reported.
Monet's arraignment took place on Wednesday morning,
according to court records, so it didn't interfere with her appearance at IAIA, one which she repeatedly
promoted on social media. But her arrest did -- she was unable to attend an event at the
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture on Sunday.
In a post on social media, the MIAC said the
event was canceled "due to a personal emergency."
Monet was still in jail as of Sunday afternoon, so she couldn't make the 1pm event. She wasn't released until later in the evening, according to county records.
Monet's next court date is May 14, when a pre-trial hearing will take place,
according to online records. She is allowed to leave the state but must use a device known as Soberlink, the records state.
Soberlink is a handheld cellular blood alcohol level tester,
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
The Santa Fe Sheriff's Department blotter incident from Monet's arrest follows:
0219005630/Aggravated DUI, resisting evading obstructing an officer/4.5.19
Deputy Assigned: Blaine Lattin
Commander Entering: CPL. Jared Mosher
Suspect: Jenni Monette 42 Tucson AZ
Location: 903 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe
Deputies were dispatched to Cliff's Liquor Store on reference to a disorderly conduct where deputies made contact with the suspect seated inside her vehicle. A DWI investigation was initiated due to an odor of alcohol coming from the suspects breath. Suspect refused SFST's and resisted deputies as they placed her in handcuffs. The suspect refused to submit to a breath test she was booked.
Read More on the Story
Video: Journalist's profane, name-calling arrest after she claims racial profiling
(KRQE April 11, 2019)
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