Driver's record: 8 DWIs, 0 convictions

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - She's an Albuquerque woman who's been arrested eight times as a suspected drunken driving, but she's walked on the charges every time.

Rebekah Glass’ Breathalyzer tests as reported by police show she's been blitzed behind the wheel a lot, but her court records tell a whole different story.

The 34-year-old has been arrested eight times in Albuquerque over a dozen years

“There is something going on that I think deserves looking into,” said Linda Atkinson with the Victims’ Rights Project.

So KRQE News 13 did.

Glass was arrested twice in 1999; the second time she wrecked her car and her blood-alcohol content was alleged to be 0.17 according to Motor Vehicle Division records. Both cases were dismissed.

The District Attorney's offices said the Albuquerque Police Department officer didn't show in court on the first case, and the second was dismissed after it took too long to prosecute.

Under state law, the presumptive level for intoxication is a blood-alcohol content of 0.08.

Glass was picked up again in 2000. Court records show the case was dismissed because the cop didn't show.

In 2001 officers said her car was in the middle of the road, out of gas, and she she was behind the wheel with a 0.11 BAC. A judge found her not guilty at trial.

In 2002, Glass was arrested again after causing an accident. The case was tossed for another no-show cop, according to the DA's office.

Glass was popped in 2006 with a reported O.15 BAC, but the court records show the arresting officer didn't show.

In 2009 an Albuquerque Public Schools Police officer saw her swerving down the street and called APD. That time police said she blew 0.19.

Court records show the state wasn't ready to go forward with the case, and the judge dismissed it.

In 2010 Glass was arrested again near Lomas Boulevard and University Avenue. This time she had a 0.14 BAC, according to police, but got out of the DWI because the judge decided there wasn't enough probable cause for the officer to have tested her for drunken driving.

The criminal complaint said she was swerving and admitted to drinking. The judge did find her guilty of weaving though.

“This is a crash waiting to happen,” said Atkinson.

Atkinson said her research shows maneuvering by defense attorneys and an overload of cases for cops contributed to officers not showing up to testify. Atkinson wouldn't say Glass has been lucky but instead said she has worked the system.

“The luck would come in that she hasn't killed anyone else,” she said.

KRQE News 13 contacted APD Friday afternoon to ask about the no-show officers and received a statement in response:

“As of 4:30 p.m. on Friday, we are unable to confirm that our officers failed to appear in court for these DWI hearings. We need an opportunity to research and verify each case before we can say there was any wrongdoing on the part of any law enforcement officers."

The statement went on to say APD takes DWI seriously and wouldn't make the effort to arrest someone and then not show up in court without a good reason.

A check with Metropolitan Court by APD Friday found two cases where officers failed to appear: one in 2000, the other in 2006. In the 2000 case the officer was no longer with APD, and the 2006 case is still being researched to confirm the officer wasn't there and why, according to the statement.

Glass has always hired private attorneys to handle her cases.