Rep. David Lee Cook, R-Globe, was arrested on DUI charges, including extreme DUI, shortly after 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19.

The police report obtained from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) indicates that Cook was initially charged with DUI-liquor/drugs/vapors/combo; DUI with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of .08 or more and extreme DUI, with a BAC of .15 to .19.

A state trooper stopped Cook’s white Ford F-250 truck along Loop 202, near McDowell Road, for “multiple occurrences of unsafe lane usage,” said DPS Public Information Officer Bart Graves, in Phoenix.

While speaking with Cook, the trooper detected signs of impairment, including “the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” emanating from the truck, the report stated.

While speaking to Cook, the trooper also saw that his eyes were bloodshot and watery.

Before the trooper could finish his explanation for the traffic stop, Cook interrupted him, saying that he had dropped his cellphone and was trying to pick it up, thus the reason for his driving behavior.

The trooper noted that Cook’s speech was “slow and slurred,” and Cook was unable to retrieve his cellphone from the floorboard after several attempts.

Asked to produce his license, registration and proof of insurance, Cook handed the trooper his insurance card and registration, followed by his Arizona House of Representatives identification card.

The trooper asked Cook for his driver’s license a second time, and Cook complied.

After running a records check, the trooper returned to Cook’s truck, asking him to step outside, to which Cook replied, “No, I’m not getting out.”

Cook went on to say that he was just getting the phone he had dropped, so there was “no need for this,” the report states.

The trooper told Cook that he needed to step out of the truck so that he could verify Cook was telling the truth and was safe to drive.

Cook replied, “Do you know what you’re doing, son? You’re making a mistake,” then said, “What do you want me to do?”

For a second time, the trooper asked Cook to step out and meet him at the back of the truck.

Cook asked if it was safe, and the trooper confirmed that it was.

Watching Cook get out of his truck and walking toward the back to meet him, the trooper saw that Cook was staggering, even one time using the side of his truck to balance himself.

When the trooper asked Cook if he would consent to a field sobriety test, Cook replied, “No, I’m not going to do that.”

The trooper told Cook about his observations, such as the smell of alcohol, staggering, etc., and said that if Cook was unwilling to comply with the field sobriety test, the trooper would take him to the jail for other tests.

At first Cook said, “Why do we need to do that?” and then “Fine, what do you want me to do?”

In his report, the trooper called Cook “uncompliant” during the field sobriety test. Cook later became argumentative, even raising his voice to the trooper.

A second state trooper who arrived on scene, began talking to Cook, trying to calm him down and was successful doing so, though Cook remained uncooperative, the report stated.

Once arrested, Cook was taken to the station, where a trooper advised him to watch his head getting out of the patrol unit.

Cook replied, “I’m fine. Don’t worry, you’ll get yours,” the report stated.

Later, when served with the order suspending his driving privileges, Cook said, “It’s fine. My wife works at the MVD.”

At 3:17 a.m., Cook was released to his wife, Dana Cook.

In a Dec. 20 post on his Facebook page, Cook said that, having learned a valuable lesson the hard way the night before, “I want to share it with all of you so you can learn from it as well.” “No lunch, no dinner and some drinks with friends sounds harmless enough but get behind the wheel and try to drive home and you’re taking a chance you just shouldn’t take,” he said.

Cook described himself as lucky to be pulled over and get a DUI, as there was no accident and no one got hurt, etc.

“I’ll be paying a real price for it, and it’s a humiliating experience for sure, but compared to what can happen when someone drinks and drives, the good Lord was looking out for me,” he said.

Cook said the DPS officers who had pulled him over behaved professionally and did their job well.

“I didn’t request or receive any sort of special treatment as a result of holding office, as it should be,” he said. “I’ll be facing a judge and very real consequences, which I’ll keep you all updated on as they occur.”

In his post, Cook apologized to all, saying that he holds himself to a higher standard and has let everyone down — friends and family alike.

“But let’s not let this be a wasted experience. If you’re out, you’ve had drinks, and there is any question in your mind as to your state of readiness, call a cab or a friend,” he said. “Don’t be worrying about Christmas presents in the back seat or anything like that, because those are all really small things compared to the big things.”

Cook ended his Dec. 20 post saying, “Again, I’m sorry for what I did, and I’ll keep you all posted on the process as it moves forward.”

Cook has been a member of the state House of Representatives since 2017.

A Republican, Cook represents Arizona’s Eighth Legislative District, which includes portions of Gila and Pinal Counties.