State Rep. Victoria Neave arrested for DWI in Dallas

^{Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout.}

State Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, was arrested Tuesday night for driving while intoxicated.

Neave was booked at the Dallas County Jail at 3:30 a.m., four hours after police received a call that a car had struck a tree in the Lakewood neighborhood, according to Dallas police. 

She repeatedly told police, with slurred speech, “I love you and I will fight for you and I’m invoking my 5th Amendment rights,” according to WFAA. Neave was uncooperative with officers and refused to perform field sobriety tests or give a breath or blood sample, WFAA reported.

The state representative was released from the jail at about 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to the Dallas County Sheriff's Department. She left through a secure exit often used in high-profile cases.

Neave apologized to her district Wednesday afternoon and pledged to “accept the consequences of my actions, and will work to make this right.”

“Last night, I disappointed my family, my constituents and my supporters,” Neave said. “I disappointed myself. I am so grateful that no one was hurt.”

Neave, 36, represents parts of Dallas, Mesquite and Garland, and she serves on the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence as well as the House Committee on County Affairs. 

Neave, who was serving her first term in the state House, devoted herself this session to legislative issues including sexual assault prevention. She authored House Bill 1729, which establishes a grant program for testing rape kits. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the measure into law May 29, and it goes into effect Sept. 1. 

Neave also drew attention at the end of April for staging a four-day hunger strike in protest of Senate Bill 4, legislation which targeted "sanctuary cities," and was ultimately signed into law. 

Carol Donovan, chairwoman of the Dallas County Democratic Party, said in a statement she was “thankful” that no one other than Neave was involved in the accident.

“We wish her the very best and pray for her swift recovery so that she can resume her strong representation of the citizens of House District 107," Donovan said.