West Covina Councilman Mike Spence was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he crashed his car into a utility pole last month, authorities said Tuesday.Covina Police Department Sgt. Gregg Peterson said officers responding to the solo crash at Azusa Avenue and Cypress Street at around 12:30 p.m. June 12 noticed that Spence was “displaying objective symptoms” of someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.The councilman was transported to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center where he was cited for a DUI, Peterson said, adding that it was not yet clear whether Spence was under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both. The department is waiting for toxicology reports from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department crime lab. “He was just under the influence of something is what officers believe. To say exactly what it is I can’t tell you,” Peterson said. “Once all the blood work comes back from the lab we’ll have a better idea.”Spence said in a phone interview Tuesday that he could not remember anything from that day and did not remember being cited for a DUI.
Spence said he has had a drinking problem in the past, but he was not sure if he drove drunk.“If I was then it was a big mistake,” Spence said, adding that he does not use drugs. “If it’s true then I take full responsibility for it. Spence said he attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings but has been going “less than I was earlier” because he’s been busy. The councilman, a Republican, ran for the 55th State Assembly District this year. He came in third place in the June 7 primary.“I apologize to everyone. I’m upset and disappointed with myself,” Spence said. “I’ll get back and that will be another part of my recovery.”The councilman said he broke his hip, femur, back and a couple of ribs in the crash. He underwent two surgeries at the medical center for a spinal fusion and to repair his hip and femur. He was later transferred to Casa Colina Hospital for Rehabilitative Medicine in Pomona. Peterson said he did not know how fast Spence was driving when he struck the pole and a utility box.
Investigators believe alcohol or drugs was the primary collision factor.“There’s nothing indicating that speed was a contributing factor,” he said, adding that once the department receives the toxicology reports it will submit the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which would determine whether to file charges.West Covina Mayor James Toma, who has been on the council with Spence since the two were elected in 2013, said he was shocked by the DUI. “Councilman Spence is incredibly lucky that he was not killed in the accident and that nobody else was injured or killed,” Toma said by phone. “It sounds like he’s taking responsibility for this and I hope that he takes whatever measures necessary to address this problem if it still is a problem.”Spence said he expected to be released from Casa Colina on Tuesday afternoon and would be off work until Sept. 5. Spence is chief of staff for San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman.“I don’t like personal failures and this would be one of them,” Spence said.
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