A Bronx assistant district attorney, Sierra Fischer, 30, was arrested last night and is facing three charges related to alleged drunk driving. She was taken into custody shortly after 11 p.m. in the NYPD’s 50th Precinct and is charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired, and refusing to submit to a breath test.
The NYPD confirmed the arrest and the charges, according to News 12. The outlet reports the arrest occurred "just after 11 p.m. Thursday" in the 50th Precinct and lists the three charges detailed in the police account. Initial coverage notes investigators recorded a refusal to submit to a chemical breath test as part of the incident.
City payroll databases list Sierra L. Fischer as an assistant district attorney in the Bronx and show she has worked in the DA's office in recent years, according to the Databook. Hoodline previously reported Fischer was assigned to Trial Bureau 50 and prosecuted a fatal hit-and-run in the borough last year. Those records and reporting indicate Fischer has handled vehicular-crime prosecutions in Bronx courtrooms.
News 12 reports it reached out to the Bronx District Attorney's Office for comment and had not received a response at the time of publication. It was not immediately clear whether Fischer would be placed on administrative leave or what personnel steps, if any, the office might take.
What the charges mean
Under New York law, refusing a requested chemical test can trigger a separate administrative proceeding at the DMV and can lead to immediate suspension or revocation of driving privileges, even if the related criminal case is later dismissed, according to the New York State criminal justice FAQ. The relevant statute lays out the refusal process and DMV hearing mechanics; see VTL §1194 for the statutory language.
Precedent in the borough
Bronx prosecutors have found themselves on the other side of a drunk-driving case before. In 2019 a Bronx assistant district attorney was arrested in Queens after allegedly crashing into parked cars, according to ABC7, an episode that drew public attention at the time. Those earlier incidents prompted scrutiny of office conduct and public questions about accountability.
The charges against Fischer are allegations, and she is presumed innocent under the law. Updates on the case will be provided through court records and official statements as it progresses through the legal system.
