Seattle FBI Agent Arrested For DUI
One of Seattle's most iconic pubs, home to one of the best fish 'n chips in Washington state, is apparently a favorite final port of call for FBI holiday parties.
After drinking one single Rainier tallboy at the Pacific Inn, according to her own account, Chelsea Buford was found slumped over, sitting in the driver seat of her car, parked in the middle of the road in Ballard.
She was later arrested for DUI. No one was injured.
In May, HardPressed reported that top FBI Seattle leadership requested Buford's DUI arrest case file. At that time, HardPressed did not know if the woman arrested was an FBI employee.
This week, HardPressed received body worn video from the arrest.
After a Seattle Police Department (SPD) officer asked Buford where she worked, she revealed that she was a sworn agent with the FBI. In light of her employment, she asked for no special treatment from SPD.
After stepping out of her car, Buford blew a 0.176 into an SPD portable breathalyzer, more than twice the legal limit in Washington State. SPD then took her into custody at 12:41 in the morning.
On the ride to SPD's North Precinct, Buford said she started at the FBI at the end of 2022 and worked at the FBI Seattle Field Office. "I'm in a squad that does public corruption, hate crimes, civil rights matters, things like that," she said in the back of the SPD cruiser.
At SPD's North Precinct, Buford said she started drinking with colleagues at around 6 p.m. at Fremont Brewing, which was co-founded by former Seattle city councilmember Sara Nelson. Buford said she then moved down the street for another round at the Pacific Inn.
Buford told an SPD sergeant screening the arrest that her FBI supervisor was Seattle Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Marlo Ronnow.
SPD provided Buford with a courtesy ride home after she was processed at the North Precinct.
Her Seattle Municipal Court criminal DUI case remains open and ongoing. She's requested a jury trial and the next hearing in her case is scheduled for November.
The FBI Seattle Division declined to comment for this report. In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, FBI Headquarters refused to conform nor deny the existence of any internal disciplinary case against Buford.
Buford did not respond to a request for comment.
Operating a privately owned vehicle while intoxicated can bring internal FBI disciplinary penalties ranging from a 30 day suspension to dismissal from the bureau.