A woman has filed a lawsuit alleging she was wrongfully charged with a DUI despite testing negative for drugs or alcohol, claiming the arrest was driven by a police 'arrest quota.'
Brianna Longoria, 32, of California, was in Phoenix for her wedding on December 29, 2024, when she was pulled over by Officer Mary Metheny of the Phoenix Police Department. According to the federal court filing obtained by the Daily Mail, the officer accused Longoria of running a red light, but body camera footage later showed the light was green. The red light violation was subsequently voided.
Despite this, Metheny administered multiple DUI tests. In the footage, Metheny is heard telling other officers that Longoria's 'eyes were red' and she had dilated pupils, stating, 'I am not expecting it to be alcohol... a lot of things I am seeing are consistent with marijuana.' Before administering a breathalyzer, Metheny said, 'I'm not suspecting any alcohol. I just want to rule it out.' After the test showed 'triple zeros,' Metheny remarked, 'Just like I thought.'
Nevertheless, Longoria was arrested. At the police station, body camera footage captured Metheny and another officer, Annette Hannah, discussing DUI arrests. Hannah said, 'They're going to kick me off squad if I don't get a DUI,' to which Metheny replied, 'No. No. There's nights where I don't get any. You're fine.' Hannah added, 'But I'm like, I can't just conjure one up. I have tried,' and Metheny insisted, 'You can. You can.'
The lawsuit claims this conversation reveals a de facto DUI quota within the Phoenix Police Department. 'Officer Metheny’s prosecution of a DUI against Brianna was to meet the de facto DUI quota imposed by the City because Brianna was not driving impaired by any substance,' the filing states.
Metheny later voided the red light citation, and the DUI charges were dropped in April 2025. However, Longoria's California driver's license was suspended until July 2025, impacting her ability to receive cancer treatment, pursue nursing school admission, and go on her honeymoon.
The Phoenix Police Department declined to comment on the ongoing litigation but stated it does not have a DUI quota. 'DUI enforcement assignments are based on operational needs... Officers are required to base enforcement decisions on observed driving behavior, indicators of impairment, and the totality of the circumstances,' the department said. Both officers remain employed and have denied the claims.
