He was the chief of police. He had a DUI charge before. And he had his 10-year-old daughter in the backseat when he crashed into a tree. Here is the footage. >> What happened, man? We are literally camping on Corey Island. >> Uh-huh. >> We woke up. We had to come here and get something. >> Uh-huh. >> We're just driving across down. And then all of a sudden, like everybody's flying through here, like weekend, like >> Uh-huh. >> And so I just just go off the road cuz of the road cuz the road like just traffic's flying at me. >> Yeah, yeah. I got you, bro. >> Not trying to cut I I should have cut it harder. >> Sorry, my computer's jacked. >> I was not drinking. >> 166 County, I'm back to eight. >> When I hit that tree, I I started drinking. >> Okay. Why Why is that? >> Cuz I was [ __ ] stressed the [ __ ] out. >> Hey, dude, don't get an attitude. Just answer the questions. >> No, no. I I mean I'm as a brother, I'm saying, "Hey, dude, I I was [ __ ] stressed out. This looks bad." >> Yeah. Especially dude, you reek of alcohol, man. >> I know. >> I know. Yeah. Well, how much did you drink while you were sitting there, dude? >> I had a whole couple of vodkas. >> Frustrated and cornered, the chief offered a classic defense. He claimed he hadn't been drinking while driving, but that he only started drinking after he crashed his truck to calm his nerves. It's a bold gamble, but the forensics tell a different story. >> Bro. >> Cuz right now, dude, it does not look great. >> I know it doesn't. I know that. My teeth are in my damn joints. >> My fault? >> I don't know, dude. Like I got to do the investigation and cuz they were saying that we got witnesses already saying that you were hitting the guardrails and stuff back there. >> [ __ ] >> Well, I'm just saying that's what they're saying right now. So. We got all these witnesses. >> There wasn't anybody in behind me. >> Well, I don't know. I'm just saying. >> Watch his movements. If he had just started drinking minutes ago, his motor skills wouldn't be this dismantled. The stumbling, the slurred speech, and the inability to hold a line suggests the alcohol was in his system long before the impact. >> I don't drink all day. >> So, right now, probably, dude, to be honest. So, we got all these people >> I drank the alcohol after I crashed. >> Well, I know, but we got witnesses saying otherwise. I mean >> What witnesses? I didn't see anybody. >> Okay, well, maybe not, but they have We have enough witnesses to say otherwise. I'm not trying to be a jerk. And maybe it would be different if >> Where would I have been rubbing the freaking rails? >> You on any medication or anything like that? >> Uh at nighttime I'm on >> Were you drinking at the lake at all? Last night or anything? >> Uh last night I drank at the uh cabins. >> Do you have anyone that can uh come sit with her or something, like girlfriend or what like wife or her mom or anything? >> My wife just got destroyed. Is it Although I already have my wife destroyed. Jesus Christ, I'm like right here. You make her? >> I think that would be best, man. >> going to arrest me or not? >> I'll have to do some testing stuff, Kurt. It'd be different if you called me beforehand before you wrecked. >> Well, here's the thing. I drank after I after I crashed. >> Okay. I still have to ask all the witnesses and everyone who came here. Where's the vodka bottle that you're drinking? Is it up there? >> Vodka. >> What? You said you chugged vodka after the crash. >> Yeah. I don't know how much is out of the room. >> I'm not trying to pick on you, man. I got >> No, you're not. >> Today is my Friday. I don't want to do this. >> No, you're not. >> Come on. Officer, I don't want to do this. >> to do it over. >> I wouldn't say that, dude. >> It is. I'm [ __ ] >> Are you going to perform some tests for me or not? >> Tell me what to do. >> What? >> Tell me what to do. >> Dude, I'm I'm bound, man. Like as a dude >> know you're bound as a >> Yeah, like we dude we are like >> As a brother, I mean >> Dude, it's like as far as like me, dude we have like six cameras on video, GPS two GPSs. >> I know we're being recorded right now. >> Yeah, I can't I mean I'm All these guys are here. Like I I'm I'm Like I I can't give you legal advice. >> I'll I'll do the test. >> You will? Okay. I have to get on flat ground. I want to give you the best chance you can do, dude. I mean, I'll have to get on flat ground. >> jammed up on me. >> Yeah. Why? Is something wrong with your eyes or what? >> Probably. >> Okay. Well, well, I'm going to get on flat ground and then we'll get a we'll get a witness there and then we'll give you a fair shake. I'll get on as flat flat flat as possible, okay? >> All right. >> And then we'll just hang tight and we'll see if we can >> You can call her mom now. >> Uh yeah, probably come pick her up. What's her name and date of birth? >> Chief Eric Tippit knew the forensics were against him. So, he offered a desperate story. He claimed the vodka was consumed after the impact to steady his nerves. But as the deputy pressed him to take a field sobriety test, the chief persona finally cracked. Listen to the shift in his voice. He stops explaining and starts negotiating. He asks the deputy to help him with the situation. A coded plea for the kind of professional favor that usually happens behind closed doors. But in the age of the body cam, there are no favors. There is only the record. >> I don't want to I don't want to write Dude, today's my Friday. I don't want to do all this paperwork. >> Here's her mom's number. >> Do you want any of those people call her that actually know her? I don't know. Does it matter? >> the test. >> Okay. We can do the test first. I got to find Well, first we Dude, this uphill is going to jack with you. You got to get flat. >> I'll come back down. >> Yeah. >> They're all with her. They all know her. >> All right. We're going to back up and get on flat ground. Does that work for you? >> Yeah, I've got these [ __ ] weird sandals on, but probably could still do what I need to do. >> I could do it on that dirt road that they're blocking off. That way we're not in the way. Oh, you're good. We're not getting out yet. Hey Cindy, can we move your truck so I can get on this dirt road? >> But >> What's up, bro? >> I'm not I don't [ __ ] know. We We literally woke up. And then we wanted to go get stuff to go back to the cabin. Right there on Whispering >> Dude, I'm not arguing with I'm not saying anything. >> no, no. What I'm saying is like like we woke up. >> Yeah. >> And I was like, "Do you get [ __ ] plowed before you can go get your gear?" We realized we were going to stay another day. >> Uh-huh. >> So I was like, "Okay." We were lost. Hang out together. Spend time with my daughter. That's all I got left. I lost a tech sergeant. I lost Come to your house and daughters and play. [ __ ] A bunch of hits. man. Whole bunch of hits. >> All day, maybe. Hopefully you crush this, dude, so we can both go home. I get off at 5:00 and I start my days off. >> I mean CRN is not a crush. >> Well, well, I'm just saying. All right. So Uh you've been arrested. You're requested to submit to the test or tests to determine the presence or concentration of toxicants in your body. The test will be a breath breath test. If a blood test is performed, it will be done by approved medical personnel under Oklahoma law. Once you complete the state's test, you may have additional tests at your own expense. You are not entitled to consult with an attorney prior to making your decision to submit to the state's test. You may refuse the state's test, but as a consequence, your driving privileges will be revoked or denied. If you are 21 years of age or older and the test result is 0.08 or more blood alcohol concentration, your driving privileges will be revoked or denied. If you are under the age of 21 and the test result is 0.02 uh or more alcohol concentration, your driving privileges will be revoked or denied. Will you take the state's test? It's up to you, man. I mean, but if you don't take it, you're you're going to be suspended. So, it's either going to be blow and you can blow under and it's less than charger. That's up to you, man. >> Let's go blow. >> Okay. All right, I'm going to call for a wrecker and stuff. Let's Let's go ahead and have a seat in here. >> All right, let's go. Let's walk over behind here. >> Yeah, so I'm not we're not Yeah. >> Well, we can't leave him I I want to see the mom. I'm not She's coming here, I mean, we can't We can't wait that long for her, dude. I want to see the mom. >> Delta 400, Durant. >> Delta 400, go ahead. >> Delta 400, Durant. I'm going to be uh 10-15, signal 88. Will you assign me a time and crash number and then call the next wrecker up, please? >> Delta 400, what's up? >> I can't I mean, I'm I mean, it's against the water. >> I'm going to buckle you up, Kurt. You want the air? >> I got it. >> Okay. You want the air or anything? Are you hot, cold, or anything like that? >> y'all to just be cool about this. >> Dude, I'm trying. >> I know you're I know you're >> It's a one-car crash. >> I know, but >> Dude, I can't. >> I was like, my cabin's right there. >> Delta 400, go. >> 400, go ahead. >> 400, I'm going to be en route to LCDC for the state's test. The trouble police is going to stand by on the crash for the wrecker to come pick it up. >> I'm blowing under what? >> Delta 400, what's clear? You have starting mileage? 400, starting mileage is going to be 4871. I say again, 4871. >> I'm sorry, what did you say? >> I'm blowing under what? >> Delta 400, what's clear? >> Uh well, I won't charge you with DUI if you blow under. Cuz I process this [ __ ] really fast. >> Yeah. Well, I don't I mean, I'll tell you what, Kurt. If you blow under, dude, I'll just I'll have to uh cite you for PI and then cut I'll just take you home. >> What about my job though, dude? And my whole [ __ ] life. Do you know what has started all this? >> The divorce, probably, maybe. I'm not sure, dude. Let me Let me talk to 7-Star real quick and then I'll >> I'm all ears, bro. >> I don't I'm not trying to be rude, but I'm just kind of Hey, 7-Star. >> After much frustration in trying to explain his way out of it, he attempted the field sobriety tests. He struggled significantly with the walk and turn and the one leg stand. The deputy determined that Chief Tippit was too impaired to operate a vehicle safely. The post-accident defense didn't save Eric Tippit. The deputy's report was final. The chief was impaired, the accident was his fault, and the badge offered no immunity. He was charged with DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. But for a man who spent decades building a reputation in Arkham, the legal fees were the least of his worries. The real cost was the loss of his command. Shortly after this footage went public, Tippit resigned. The man who once sat at the head of the table was now a cautionary tale in the very files he used to manage. Accountability doesn't stop at the precinct doors. Power demands responsibility. When that line is crossed, the footage remains as the ultimate witness. What's your final verdict on this case? Tell us in the comments. This is Grave File TV. >> Mhm.