Kings County District Attorney's prosecutors file seven counts against Lemoore Councilmember Holly Blair

Blair was arrested on Wednesday, June 5 when police charged her with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of felony child endangerment, one count of felony evading a peace officer, one count of resisting arrest, and one count of reckless driving.

It was approximately 2:14 p.m. On June 5 that Blair, driving a red SUV, pulled into the Lemoore Police Department’s rear parking area and, driving at a high rate of speed, proceeded through the parking lot where a group of police officers and citizens were participating in an effort to highlight the importance of mental health awareness in law enforcement.

Blair, with a minor child in the back seat and a dog, made an abrupt U-turn in the eastern portion of the compound and, again, driving at a high rate of speed, headed for the entrance. According to Lemoore Police Chief Darrel Smith, Lemoore officers and other local law enforcement officers yelled at her repeatedly to stop, and she refused to do so.

Police say Blair narrowly missed striking a civilian and her three children. Blair, according to witnesses, left the parking lot, entered Cinnamon Street followed by police officers. She failed to stop at intersections, and police arrested her at Lemoore Avenue. Officers were forced to remove her from her vehicle.

Chief Smith was at a loss for a motive that day. “I do not know what Blair’s motive was today,” he said. “I can only describe her behavior after listening to officers – their statements given to the investigators – as very bizarre. “We can’t explain what  her intent was when she came into the rear compound.”

See charges at end of article

Wednesday’s charges differ little from the original charges. Kings County prosecutors are charging Blair with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, citing three instances in which Blair, while driving recklessly in the police department’s rear parking lot, committed an alleged assault against a Lemoore police officer, a woman visitor, and a child.

Law enforcement officers charged Blair with evading a police officer during a police pursuit following the incident in the parking lot.

Police also charged her with three misdemeanors, including endangering the health of a 13-year-old child who was a passenger in the vehicle operated by Blair. She also is being charged with resisting arrest and reckless driving in an off-street parking facility where she willfully and wantonly disregarded the safety of persons or property.

Blair spent one night in jail (June 5) before being released on $195,000 bail.

Blair has a problematic history with the City of Lemoore after winning her council seat in 2016.  Her controversial behavior as a council member prompted her fellow council members to censure her in August 2018.

Earlier this year, her fellow council members and city officials attempted to seek a restraining order against the first-term council member but failed in the attempt when Kings County Superior Court Judge Kathy Ciuffini denied the city’s restraining order and instead referred the two sides to mediation.

Later, council members agreed to a “Compromise and Release Agreement” with Blair that cost the city nearly $100,000. The agreement included paying Blair’s legal fees – about $38,000.

Blair has not attended a Lemoore City Council meeting since May 7 when she missed the study session but participated at the regular 7:30 pm. Meeting.