On January 23, 2026, an officer with the Westminster Police Department in Colorado pulled over a car after seeing it driving dangerously near City Center Drive and 93rd Avenue. When the driver, Thomas Michael Raiola, refused to comply, he was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI). The situation took an unexpected turn when Raiola made a shocking confession: his three children were inside the trunk of the car. 

Police bodycam footage posted by AMatterofCrime on YouTube captures the moment. It all started when an officer spotted a blue Chevrolet driving recklessly, doing high-speed spins and blowing through stop signs before speeding out of a Dollar Tree parking lot. 

Officer William Kesler pulled the car over and spoke with the driver, 40-year-old Thomas Raiola. When asked if he knew why he’d been stopped, Raiola answered, “I was acting like an idiot.”

Raiola failed to produce his proof of insurance and registration. When asked if he had been drinking, he denied it right away, explaining his reckless driving: “This is a rental, and I’m like, ‘I was trying to,’ I don’t know. I was just messing around with it.”

Officer Kesler could smell alcohol and pressed Raiola to come clean. The driver, however, insisted he was sober, and the smell was his Zyn pouches. The officer did not buy his lie. “Are you sure you haven’t drunk any alcohol? Cuz I got a smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle right now… Zyns are supposed to smell like alcohol? “That’s interesting cause I’ve got plenty of buddies that use those, and none of them ever smell like alcohol,” he said. 

Still unconvinced, the police officer asked Raiola to step out of the vehicle to conduct field sobriety tests, starting with standard DUI questioning. Raiola eventually admitted to drinking two 99-brand shooters after leaving work. 

Raiola initially agreed to the roadside tests but grew nervous and backed out soon. ‘Okay. Well, if you’re fine, you don’t have anything to worry about. I promise. These tests are subjective to people who are under the influence. If you were completely sober, you’ll be able to pass these tests,” the cop assured him.

After Raiola refused to complete the tests, the officer decided to arrest him for driving under the influence. As officers were putting handcuffs on him, he made a startling confession. “…my kids are in the trunk. Because they’re like, ‘Dad, can you get us in the trunk and go fast for us?’”

Officers opened the trunk and found three kids inside, unsecured by any seatbelts. Temperatures outside were freezing at the time, though it wasn’t immediately clear; police said the children were fine.

“All right, so here’s the deal. State of Colorado, by operating a motor vehicle on the roads already, you’ve given your express consent for a blood or breath test today. Would you be willing to do a blood or breath test?” the officer offered Raiola another chance to cooperate. However, he denied it. 

“With a refusal, there will be other administrative fees, fines, and stuff like that. And your license will be revoked for up to a year. And then, so you’re also going to be charged with three counts of child abuse. And the DUI,” he informed Raiola. 

Officers searched the car and found multiple empty alcohol containers, including vodka bottles, an 8% Twisted Tea can, a Fireball shooter, and peppermint schnapps, along with liquid spilled on the passenger seat. 

Riola was booked into the Adams County Jail and charged with DUI, reckless driving, child abuse, and other traffic offenses. Officers took the children to warm up, contacted Child Protective Services (CPS), and ultimately released them to Raiola’s mother. 

Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public video record.