La Mirada mayor arrested on suspicion of drunken driving

LA MIRADA — Deputies arrested La Mirada Mayor Gabriel Garcia late Thursday on suspicion of drunken driving.
The misdemeanor arrest came after Garcia crashed his car into a parked vehicle in the 14700 block of Tacuba Drive, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Greg Arnold said.
The accident was “pretty minor,”and Garcia was not injured.
“He was cooperative,” the sergeant said.
“I’m deeply saddened about this,” Garcia said Friday afternoon. “I apologize to my family, colleagues and the community.”
Garcia, 49, became the first Latino to hold the mayoral title in the city’s 53-year history.
After deputies noticed the mayor appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, “he did submit to a chemical analysis,” the sergeant said.
The results of the breath test was not available Friday afternoon.
Garcia admitted to drinking wine at dinner before driving home.
“I was driving and collided with a parked vehicle,” he said. “That’s the story; I’m responsible for my actions.”
After being booked into jail, Garcia was released about 5:30 a.m. Friday with a citation pending a court appearance, according to officials and Los Angeles County booking records.
He was first elected to the City Council in 2009.
Prior to that, he served from 1993-2005 on the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District’s board of education.
Garcia is married with two children and is director of parks and community services for the city of Corona.

– Brian Day and Sandra Molina

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