'You don't know who you're messing with': Moment county commissioner threatens to get cops fired and defund the police during DWI arrest

  • Craig Pierce, 65, was arrested in June for driving while intoxicated after swerving into another lane and failing the roadside sobriety test
  • Police body camera footage was released by the Salisbury Police Department on Monday showing the arrest and his processing
  • The Rowan County Commissioner appears to use his position and wealth to threaten the jobs of officers, and even to withhold funds from the police department
  • When the officer tells Pierce he blew .27 on the breath alcohol test, Pierce says 'that's bulls***'
  • He tells the officers 'You don't know who you're messing with,' and 'I'm going to sue your a** and have your job. What I'm able to do is to take your damn job'

Craig Pierce, 65, was arrested by Salisbury police on Sunday, June 27 for Driving While Intoxicated after swerving into another lane

 Craig Pierce, 65, was arrested by Salisbury police on Sunday, June 27 for Driving While Intoxicated after swerving into another lane

Police body camera footage shared on Monday shows a North Carolina County Commissioner attempting to use his position and wealth to threaten the jobs of officers, and withhold funds from the Salisbury Police Department when he was pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. 

An officer responded to a call about a reckless driver on W. Innes St. at Statesville Boulevard at approximately 7:23 pm on June 27, according to the police report.

Rowan County Commissioner Craig Pierce, 65, was alleged to have been driving at an estimated 50 mph in a 35 mph hour zone, 'split' two lanes of traffic, had 'red, glassy eyes,' and the 'odor of an alcoholic beverage', according to the police report.

The officer noted that he watched Pierce cross the centerline and nearly hit several other vehicles.  

Pierce admitted to drinking, could not complete the roadside test, and was described as 'belligerent' in the report. 

Pierce has been a Rowan County Commissioner since 2012 and attempted to use his position to stop his arrest

 Pierce has been a Rowan County Commissioner since 2012 and attempted to use his position to stop his arrest

He was alleged to have been driving at an estimated 50 mph in a 35 mph hour zone, 'split' two lanes of traffic, had 'red, glassy eyes,' and the 'odor of an alcoholic beverage

He was alleged to have been driving at an estimated 50 mph in a 35 mph hour zone, 'split' two lanes of traffic, had 'red, glassy eyes,' and the 'odor of an alcoholic beverage

Pierce admitted to drinking, could not complete the roadside test, and was described as 'belligerent' in the report as he fell back onto the officer's car

Pierce admitted to drinking, could not complete the roadside test, and was described as 'belligerent' in the report as he fell back onto the officer's car 

The officer conducted a sobriety road test while waiting on a breathalyzer from another officer as  Pierce is noticeably intoxicated, in police footage

The officer conducted a sobriety road test while waiting on a breathalyzer from another officer as  Pierce is noticeably intoxicated, in police footage

Two hours of police bodycamera was published on Monday showing the entire exchange between Pierce and the Saislbury police officers. Pictured: Pierce leaning on the hood of a police car with his wife, Melissa, next to him

Two hours of police bodycamera was published on Monday showing the entire exchange between Pierce and the Saislbury police officers. Pictured: Pierce leaning on the hood of a police car with his wife, Melissa, next to him

The footage begins as Officer Lindquist conducts a sobriety test while waiting on a breathalyzer from another officer, Pierce is noticeably intoxicated and alternates between participating in the roadside test and threatening the officers. 

Pierce is heard frequently cursing the officers. He stumbles and nearly falls out of his SUV telling police that he can't walk due to his 'neuropathy' and had a stroke a year ago. 

When Officer Lindquist tells Pierce he blew .27 on the breath alcohol test, Pierce says 'that's bulls***.' That is three times the legal limit. 

He tells the officers 'You don't know who you're messing with,' and 'I'm going to sue your a** and have your job. What I'm able to do is to take your damn job, take your job.' 

The officer then asks Pierce what day he thinks it is, and Pierce replies that it's Friday when it was in fact Sunday. Pierce tries to explain the mistakes by saying 'Whatever it is. I'm retired so I don't know what day it is. I'm a county commissioner, they just tell me and I show up.'

Pierce is very unsteady on his feet during the arrest and needs help walking. There are several times that police officers appear to grab hold of Pierce to keep him from falling to the ground. 

'I'm not doing anything dangerous to the citizens of the county,' Pierce appears to say. At one point he tells the officers, 'If you don't give me some kind of situation.....I'm gonna sue your a**.'

Pierce needs help walking and falls back onto the hood of the officer's car several times. When asked again if he can perform the test he responds 'What I'm able to do is to take you jail.' 

Officer Lindquist continues to ask if he is able to complete the test when Pierce finally admits, 'I don't think so.'  

Things heat up when Pierce tried to get back into his car and warns that he was going to call the sheriff and 'stop that sh**. I'm gonna stop your a** from doing anything else.'  

The officer informs Pierce's wife, Melissa, who was in the passenger seat that he is going to arrest Pierce and take him to the magistrate but that he needs to be calm down she insist 'he will, he will. That's not him,' and agrees to help calm him down as he is put in handcuffs.

When asked if he has any medical conditions Pierce replies, 'no, the only thing I have is you as a d***k head.' 

Pierce repeatedly says he is going to call his attorney saying, 'the attorney I'm going to bring in here is going to rip your a**.' He also threatens to defund the police, saying 'that s*** will go away.'

'I'm not ever going to jail I promise you,' Pierce says while sitting in the police station while repeatedly failing to properly blow into a machine.  

An officer informed Pierce that he blew .27 on the breath alcohol test to which Pierce replied 'that's bulls***'

An officer informed Pierce that he blew .27 on the breath alcohol test to which Pierce replied 'that's bulls***'

Throughout the two hour exchange Pierce alternated between being corporative, refusing the test, and  threatening the officers. When asked again if he can perform the test he responded 'What I'm able to do is to take you jail'

Throughout the two hour exchange Pierce alternated between being corporative, refusing the test, and  threatening the officers. When asked again if he can perform the test he responded 'What I'm able to do is to take you jail'

Mentioning his position as City Commissioner, he said 'You don't know who you're messing with,' insisting 'I'm gonna write a check and it'll be over'

 Mentioning his position as City Commissioner, he said 'You don't know who you're messing with,' insisting 'I'm gonna write a check and it'll be over'

While getting his mugshot taken he tells the officers that he was arrested in Myrtle Beach several year ago on another alcohol related charge

While getting his mugshot taken he tells the officers that he was arrested in Myrtle Beach several year ago on another alcohol related charge 

'You think arresting me is going to be something that makes everything OK? No,' Pierce says. 'You need to go out here and arrest these drug dealers. You need to go out here and arrest these people that are selling fentanyl. That's that you need to be doing. Not worrying about me.

'I'm gonna write a check and it'll be over. What lives did you save tonight? Nothing and you need to think about that.' 

He continues, 'you got me. Whatever, Hell I don't give a d*** I got more money than you've ever seen in your life.' 

Pierce attempts to use his position to threaten the officer saying, 'You guys need to understand one d*** thing, as County Commissioner, if you keep f***ing with me then I'm gonna (mumbles) on your sh** like you've never seen.' 

Throughout processing Pierce calms down and begins to carry on friendly conversations with the officers. 

While getting his mugshot taken he tells the officers that he was arrested in Myrtle Beach when he was 35 for an alcohol related issue. He later shares that he was also arrested in Salisbury when he was 17 for 'spontaneous driving.'  

The arrest warrant states that Pierce 'unlawfully and willfully did operate a motor vehicle in a street or highway while subject to an impairing substance.'    

Pierce was first elected to the Rowan County Board of Commissioners in 2012 and won a second and third term in 2016 and 2020

Pierce was first elected to the Rowan County Board of Commissioners in 2012 and won a second and third term in 2016 and 2020

At the end of the video Pierce tells the officer, 'it's a good thing that I'm not running again cause this right here would ruin it....ahhh I don't give a sh**. I don't want to be a county commissioner any more. Pictured: Craig and Melissa Pierce in a car hanging Pierce's county commissioner poster on the door, posted to Facebook on July 17, 2016

At the end of the video Pierce tells the officer, 'it's a good thing that I'm not running again cause this right here would ruin it....ahhh I don't give a sh**. I don't want to be a county commissioner any more. Pictured: Craig and Melissa Pierce in a car hanging Pierce's county commissioner poster on the door, posted to Facebook on July 17, 2016

The 65-year-old, who was driving a gold, 2015 GMC SUV, tells police he was driving home from a charity event and decided to drive his wife and six other friends home after having two glasses of wine. 

When Officer Lindquist tells Pierce that he made a mistake by getting behind the wheel Pierce finally agrees saying, 'maybe that was my mistake.'

Realizing the gravity of the situation he tells Officer Lindquist 'it's a good thing that I'm not running again cause this right here would ruin it....ahhh I don't give a sh**. I don't want to be a county commissioner any more. I don't like the board I'm having to work with. This is not what I signed up for.'

Pierce has been a Rowan County Commissioner since 2012 and won a second and third term in 2016 and 2020, respectively. 

No action has been taken by the county. Pierce's colleague Commissioner Judy Klusman, told Fox 46, 'I'm very sad for Commissioner Pierce. He has been a very hard worker on the Commission and I hope that things can work out for him and that he can get the help he needs.'

But she said that is not concerned about his ability to continue in office, 'when you're drunk, you say a lot of things.'

 Klusman stated that, 'unless there is a felony committed, there's nothing the commission can do. The only thing that can happen is Commissioner Pierce, if he decides to, can step down.'

His charges are still pending in court. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 22. 

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