Supporters rally behind Fresno City Council Candidate Naindeep Singh in the wake of DUI accusations.
LILIANA FANNIN
Over 100 people came to show support for Fresno City Council Candidate Naindeep Singh on Monday evening in the wake of DUI allegations against him that he denies.
Singh, a Central Unified trustee locked in a tight race for the District 1 council seat, was arrested Saturday evening on suspicion of driving under the influence of a drug, according to Fresno Police.
The news broke Sunday evening. His supporters were quick to dispute the accusation and question the timing so close to Election Day on social media.
Singh took part in an exclusive interview with a prominent California Punjabi-language radio station Monday morning, contesting the allegations against him. After a day of not otherwise addressing the arrest publicly, Singh held a community press conference at Tower Theater on Monday evening.
“I believe government transparency begins with public officials being truthful, accountable, and willing to speak directly with residents, and that’s why I’m here today,” Singh said.
District 1 residents, community leaders, a few other candidates, Councilmember Miguel Arias and other supporters filled the canopy entryway of the Tower Theater to the sidewalks. Many in the crowd chanted, “We stand with Deep (Naindeep),” and held up his campaign signs.
Supporters rally behind Fresno City Council Candidate Naindeep Singh in the wake of DUI accusations. LILIANA FANNIN What Singh says happened the night of the arrest
Fresno Police have declined to provide basic details about the arrest to the media, saying only that official toxicology reports are pending. Singh told the crowd Monday that an officer on a motorcycle pulled him over around 11 p.m. Saturday for expired plates as Singh was turning left onto Olive Avenue from Wishon Avenue. He said he had paid for the registration on June 19 and brought a poster of his DMV receipt to the press conference. He said the officer said police didn’t have it in their system.
Singh said the officer then proceeded with a DUI investigation Singh said he fully cooperated, including a field sobriety test and a Breathalyzer. He said he tested negative for both in terms of alcohol.
“I saw the nature of the questions,” Singh said. “I saw the nature of the relationship begin to kind of change, and at that point, the officer posed to me whether I would be willing to go to Community Medical Regional Center to undergo a toxicology exam.”
“I don’t take any types of toxicants, so for me, it wasn’t even an issue whether I would comply or not,” Singh said. “I would absolutely show up.”
He was then taken to Community Medical Center for the test for the investigation, where he decided to also do an independent toxicology examination. A spokesperson for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office told The Bee the results of the official test could take up to three weeks. Singh received and shared the results of his independent test Monday morning, with negatives across the board, he said.
“No such thing ever occurred, never will occur,” Singh said. “My attorney and I intend to review the law enforcement test results when they become available, and again, I expect to be fully exonerated.”
Singh acknowledged the questions raised about the circumstances and timing of the incident, but said he does not want to speculate about anyone’s motives.
“I believe we should address those questions through documentation, transparency, and an objective review of the facts,” he said. “But I fully hope that there’s going to be an investigation.”
Singh faces community college trustee and former federal prosecutor Rob Fuentes for the District 1 seat. In a statement to The Bee on Monday afternoon, Fuentes pulled back on his initial comments to the media criticizing Singh’s arrest, as well as a mass campaign text message sent out Monday morning calling on Singh to drop out of the race.
“I am waiting on the results of the official toxicology reports before passing further judgment on this incident,” Fuentes told The Bee.
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