COLLEGE STATION, Texas — A Brazos Valley woman is home on bond tonight, after being arrested and charged with drug trafficking during an officer-involved shooting turned deadly.
Officials confirm 26-year-old Celeste Perez was released on a $60,000 dollar bond and is to wear an ankle monitor. A Brazos County judge initially set her bond to $455,000 dollars after a deadly drug bust January 21, according to court documents.
Perez's attorney, Craig Greening, sat down with 25 News in an exclusive interview today. Greening said authorities have depicted his client as someone friends and family say doesn't exist.
"Some of the things I told the D.A.'s office was that she was a Texas A&M graduate, she's in physical therapy school now," Greening said. "She was working her way through school at Wings'N More. Not a flight risk at all. Never been in any trouble with the police."
Greening said the evidence is clear his client was not a danger to the community, and he was able to convince the court to lower such excessive bonds.
Perez was arrested and charged after officers shot and killed her boyfriend, 33-year-old Ryan Stallings. Police said they seized over 37 pounds of drugs at the scene including MDMA, cocaine, Adderall and Xanax.
Officials said officers shot and killed Stallings during a traffic stop as he allegedly went for a concealed handgun.
The Brazos County District Attorney's Office did not return our request for comment on this case.
Greening acknowledged his client was dating Stallings but said the drugs solely belonged to Stallings. Greening said the arrest affidavit merely mentions Perez stayed at Stallings house a few times and does not mention her involvement with drug trafficking.
He emphasized those who know Perez say it's not within her character to live up to the description made by College Station police.
"I just think the picture that's been painted of her is this horrible character. But remember. She wasn't the one dealing drugs. It was her boyfriend," Greening said. "We believe that she's a way different person than what's been portrayed."