L.A. County public defender accused of drunken scene at S.F. airport

A Los Angeles County public defender was so drunk at San Francisco International Airport this week that she resisted arrest, sang the “Happy Days” theme and asked officers for cocaine while in a patrol car, authorities said.

Monica Marie Jenkins, 37, was so drunk, according to the San Mateo County district attorney’s office, that she refused a suggestion to sober up and catch a later flight, instead demanding she be taken to jail.

As she was being arrested, Jenkins started screaming profanities, threatened to sue the officers and started singing “Rock Around the Clock,” prosecutors said. She also kicked an officer, according to prosecutors.

“Once in the patrol car, she changed her tune” and allegedly told police, “Thank you for saving me,” “where’s my purse? It’s worth a lot of money,” and “I’m not worrying anymore, give me some cocaine,” according to an account of the events described by the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors allege Jenkins, 37, was drunk at the airport and “refused suggestions such as sober up and catch a later flight,” according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office.

“Instead she demanded to be taken to jail, screaming profanities and threatening to sue the officers; she also broke out into song ‘1,2,3,4,5 o’clock rock,’” the district attorney’s office said.

Officers arrested Jenkins on suspicion of being drunk in public and kicking an officer while shouting profanities and being walked from the gate.

Prosecutors said that at the jail, she also allegedly tried to bite a nurse.

The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Jenkins, who was released on her own recognizance, is due back in court July 14 to face five misdemeanor counts related to the incident.

ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com

Twitter: @aribloomekatz