On October 6th, 2022, officers initiated a routine traffic stop on a vehicle displaying an unreadable paper license plate. What began as a standard stop quickly evolved into a DUI investigation when officers detected the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the car. >> Can't understand what your plate's reading there. Um all right, so I just drove from Eureka. Um so I've been trying to get um the my car registered. I'm going to I'm going to my mom's house. She's supposed to be doing it. >> Okay. All right. Because I couldn't register and insure it cuz the paper was signed wrong. But I'm going She got my paper. >> So that tag's expired, right? That's on the back of the car? Um I just found that out just yesterday. >> Okay. All right, you have a driver's license? I don't have it on me, but I know my driver's license uh Why don't you have your license on you? >> I forgot it. All my stuff's in my mom's car. I'm meeting her right now. Okay. >> You want me to call her? No, what I want you to do is write your information down here for me. I need your Florida driver's license information. Do you have a Florida driver's license? >> Island, okay. Have you ever had a Florida driver's license? No, I just moved down here. Give me your name, date of birth, and uh your current address. Hey. Go and call that out for me, would you? Yeah. I don't know if you'll be able to read that tag or not. They got 15 1050. I Sorry, I just been my I just been going through a lot. My >> I understand. Yeah, my family and I'm When I moved down here, my family's moving also. Okay. The fact that they're moving The fact that they they moved from um The fact that I moved down here and we're moving up and then The fact that I moved down here, I called them when they're moving, too. Okay. I understand completely, do you? And I'm still like I'm sorry. I just >> You're fine. I'm sorry. Um do you want my license number in case? Your your license number? Yes, ma'am, that would be very helpful. We like that. >> All right. How old are you? I'm only 21. You look very young. >> Yeah, thank you. It's the Asian in me. So um it's a Rhode Island, is that right? Yes. [clears throat] 40088882? Yeah. It's like you wrote it down? >> Yeah. So I'm just going Sydney, how do you say your last name? >> Rhode Island. I'm just going to um yeah, my mom said that she was helping me like we tried to register it yesterday at the DMV, but she said that um they said that the person that sold me the car didn't sign in the right area, so we got to fix it. And I forgot the car I forgot to pick up my paper for my car. We'll figure it all out, but you got to give me a minute, okay? Do you have any paperwork for this car inside this car? >> No, it's in my mom's car. No paperwork for the um license plate? No, it's in it's in Can I get the picture from her? It's in her car cuz I tried to register my car yesterday. Um no, that's okay. What I'm going to have you do is set your phone down and come on out of here and stand with the officer on the curb, okay? While I figure out this car, okay? You can just leave your phone in the car. Can I call my mom? No, ma'am, there's no reason to call your mom. If you need it a minute, we'll get the phone for you. So just stay with these officers right here. So come over here just so we're out of the street, all right? Yeah, just have a seat, all right? Yeah. Yeah, come here for a second. Just step over here. Yeah. I'm live and I'm going to stay live, but um she looks like she's got impairment and you can smell the burnt cannabis in the car. Yeah, there's a bunch of So she's actively driving and smoking. Oh, wait, there's some in there? >> There's it's it's old like >> Okay. Yeah, that's fine. She's been actively smoking with us now right before she got in the car, but she's slurred speech. She's got several things going. What, she bawling now? Yep. So what's your name, Sydney? Sydney. Where do you Where do you live, you said? Just up there? I'm from Rhode Island. No, I'm from Rhode Island. I'm from Rhode Island. Okay. >> Can you just please call my mom, bro? I mean we got to figure out what's going on with the car first and like you said, you're not you're not a kid, you're 21, so we got to figure out what's going on, okay? You just turned 21, right? If you scan that right there, does it scan or you my name will pop up on the car? We don't We don't have scanners like that. No, on your phone. Uh I I No, I'm not going to do that. Can you do it, please? We actually don't have cameras on our work phones, which is crazy. We're not allowed to use them, so. Uh just hang out. Please call my mommy. >> [clears throat] >> Call my mommy. Please call my mommy. I'm so sad. Hey Sydney, can you stand up for me? I'm not I'm not going >> Stand up so we can talk, okay? Please. Let's step over here in the shade. Call my mommy. What are you upset about? My car I hate So my cousin had passed away. Hey, license and registration. That's why I'm going back. Come on, guys. Come on. I just want my mom. Why is that not Why Okay. Well, your mom's not in your car when you're driving, right? So you There's not a phone in your hand. Yeah, it's not, but I just like I'm not from here. I don't leave me alone. And I'm going to work If you're worried about that license plate, we're going to figure that out. That's not going to be a huge deal. Let me tell you why I have officers here, okay? Yeah. Uh in just a few seconds I'm going to do a roadside evaluation to see if you've operated a vehicle while in a state of impairment off of the cannabis that you've been smoking. You can't I just like I'm not from here. I don't leave me alone. And I'm going to work If you're worried about that license plate, we're going to figure that out. That's not going to be a huge deal. Let me tell you why I have officers here, okay? Yeah. Uh in just a few seconds I'm going to do a roadside evaluation to see if you've operated a vehicle while in a state of impairment off of the cannabis that you've been smoking. You can't operate a vehicle in Florida after you've consumed, ingested, or whatever um controlled substance. >> When I leave like how I just left now? So we'll talk about that. >> I just left my mom like literally I just left there. I was like in the parking lot and I told her and then she told me to go drive the car and drop it off and that's it. >> Okay, and we'll talk And she said she was going to meet me. I just want my mom, please. Yeah. Okay. Well, we got to do this first, okay? Um let's step away from this tree so I don't have this in my face. So go turn around and face me now. You're 21 years old, you're an adult. You know there's some things that you're going to have to figure out on your own in your life and this is one of them it looks like, okay? Just because you and I are talking doesn't mean you're in any trouble at all, all right? It just means you and I are going to have a conversation. I'm going to evaluate you to see um you've obviously been smoking some marijuana, okay? >> at the house. So do you have a medical marijuana card? >> No, I smoked at the house with my with my brother. So My mom was there. When you smoke or when you drink alcohol or anything that is intoxicating, okay? You can't operate the vehicle. When that intoxication gets >> Huh? >> I was parked when I smoked. But it means that you have to drive. >> Yeah, I can't >> It's like drinking six beers. It's like drinking six beers, waiting 20 minutes, and getting in your car and driving. You didn't drink and drive at the same time, but you did after you had the intoxicating substance, okay? >> Yeah, I'm sorry. So you and I are going to have a little evaluation on you. It doesn't mean you're in any trouble, though. Okay. Part of that evaluation is I need to read it to you what's called your Miranda warning. It doesn't mean you're going to jail. Have you ever heard your Miranda rights? You have the right to remain silent, that thing? You ever heard that? It doesn't mean you're going to jail when you hear this, it means I want to ask you a specific question when I'm done, okay? If you'll listen closely to me, you have the right to remain silent. >> Okay, you listening? You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have one present with you while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Do you understand the rights I read them to you? And having that in mind, are you willing to talk to me now? Yes. Okay. All right, it's going to be real simple. I'm not going to trick you, okay? I'm going to ask some some questions I expect an honest response. Don't lie to me. I would rather you not answer than to lie, okay? So you already told me that you smoked a little bit of marijuana before you drove. About how long ago was that? Probably like 30 minutes ago. >> Okay. And you do not have a medical marijuana card? >> About how much marijuana do you have in that joint, we'll call it, that you smoked? Huh? I only had a drink with a drink last night. 1 g, okay. About an hour ago, 1 g. Yeah, 30 minutes. Are you a diabetic? No. I'm not. You don't have epileptic seizures? Do you see a doctor weekly or monthly? No. Are you prescribed any medications? I'm taking them. No. Just what? >> No, I'm not. I was taking antibiotics, but I didn't take them anymore. Okay, that was a while ago. And then you're uh based on what you're telling me then you're you have pretty good health, is that right? Yeah, I used to pass out a lot, but I don't pass out anymore. Was that from Yes. Okay. I noticed that you've walked without a cane, you've walked without crutches. You don't have a handicap placard in your car. So there you don't have any physical defects that keep you from simply walking, turning, um or doing emotions, is that right? Okay. No, I do have like my tailbone broken. I was supposed to go get Your tailbone? Yeah, and I was supposed to have gone and got checked out, but I never went and I was like How do you know your tailbone's broken? Cuz I went to the hospital. Okay. And they were How long ago was that? >> They told me I had chronic pain. It was in Atlanta like this year. So it's been a while. Is that why you smoke marijuana for the chronic pain? Yeah, they helped me like sleep. I don't If you smoke it for chronic pain, why don't you go get a medical marijuana card? I just haven't had a chance to go back up north in a while. So I haven't had a chance. You can do it here, you know? I just came back from Georgia. Yeah, so I mean like here you can get one. Yeah, I'm going to That's something maybe you can work on later, right? Okay. Right now, are you feeling sick? No. You feel injured right now? No. Okay. I know what you're telling me about your tailbone. I believe you. Um >> [clears throat] >> but it doesn't prohibit you from doing simple movements. You were sitting on it without any special cushion or or you have no cast. >> I have a donut, but I just don't use it. But it's not in that car right now. Um the I bought it from a pharmacy. It's not prescribed. But you're not using it right now. No. So it's not something that you're dependent on. It's something maybe that gives you a little more comfort, but it's not something you're dependent. Okay. All right, and again, I've seen you walk over here. I've seen you even sit down on the ground and get up on your own, Yeah. so there's no problem there. You just take off your glasses for me. Yeah, just take them off. Okay. Take them all the way off, just put them in your pocket. You're not going to have to read anything. All right. See the tip of this ink pen? Follow the tip of that ink pen with your eyes. All right. Do not move your head. Do you understand? Here we go. Doing fine. Doing fine. Open up the eyes. Open them up. There we go. Don't move the head. All right. Open up the eyes. Don't move your head. Open up the eyes for me. I'm just going to show him something. All right. Are we done yet? You're doing fine. You're doing fine. Okay. Let's open your eyes up. Open your eyes. There you go. Follow the pen straight up. Do not move your head. This time I'm going to go around her head. I'll bring the ink pen towards your nose, but I will not touch you. Okay? Understand? All right. Open up your eyes. I'm not going to touch you with the pen. See that? Yeah. All right. Okay. Do you want to do What I was showing him was your eyes are showing things. People who smoke cannabis regularly, there's certain things their eyes do that a person that doesn't smoke cannabis with their eyes won't do. So, do you smoke probably about a gram a day then? >> Yeah, I don't smoke a lot. I don't. I really don't. >> times a week do you think you smoke? >> Probably like three or four times. >> four times and that >> feel like I want to like or need it for like when I'm when I need to go to sleep and I have trouble sleeping. >> Okay. All right. All right. So, about three or four times a week at a gram a piece. Okay. No other medications? No. Am I getting a ticket? You what? Am I getting a ticket? >> We haven't got anywhere near that yet. Okay? We're we're still doing this interview here. This is going to take a couple more minutes and then we'll be done. We'll decide what's going to happen now. All right. Where's the marijuana at in your vehicle right now? Um um um I don't have none. >> Don't go get it, but You what? What you got in >> a roach. It's in the middle. In the console? >> No, in the cup holder. Okay. In the middle there's a burnt roach. >> Yeah. Which would mean that you were smoking marijuana. No, that was in a I told you I was just at my house. >> Whose marijuana marijuana is that one? That was what we were smoking. So, you smoked it and then brought it with you. >> No, we parked and smoked and then I just Yeah, and then my brother got out and I just left. >> Okay. So, you smoked it when you were sitting in the car. Is >> Is that in front of your house? Yeah. What is your house address? Um I well, I'm staying at my mom's house. It's on 449. >> Okay. So, you sit there with your brother and and smoked in front of the house in the car. Okay. About an hour ago. Is there any marijuana in your in your coat right now? >> No, you can check me if Okay. Yeah, we might do that in a minute. I'm not I'm not too something like that. We have a couple more things we're going to do. These officers are going to stand with you while I do some things. I'll come back and we'll keep moving. Okay? All right. All right. My little brother, can you I need to call my mom to get him. Can you Can I just call her? So, um Not yet, but I mean we Give me a moment. >> to use my phone they said. Who told you that? That's what like the law is, right? They said that. They record and stuff. >> Nowhere near the law. No. >> But I need to call my my brother is going to be stuck there. How old is your brother? He's like 14, 15. >> Okay. Where's he stuck at? Um Northeast High School. >> At school? Right up there. That's where you were going to get him? Um on the way there, yeah. I think he's going to be there. Yeah. He's at that age. He'll be fine waiting on you. He has a phone of his own. Is that right? >> Yeah. So, he could give her a call if you don't show up. Uh we were just saying >> me to the gas station? I'm on my period, too. Okay. Well, we can't not right now. Not yet. We got to finish this investigation and then we can talk about some options. All right? >> All right. Yeah, just have a seat. I want to call my mom, please. Cindy, do you have anything in your coat? >> No. Nothing? No. You can check me if you want. >> Nothing like that. All right. All right. I just like I just moved from Georgia to try to come live with my brother and stuff and they move in and it's just like my cousin just died out there in Georgia and I was living with him and like I just been going through a lot. >> Yeah. I feel you. I feel you. I'll just hang out. All right. Hopefully we'll be done soon. Okay? Are you okay? Are you okay to stay with us? Yeah. I have to walk the line. We'll talk about what we're going to do. It's real simple. Just go ahead and stand up. So, I'm basically going to just try to do what he did. All right. I'm going to just check the eyes again and then we're going to go into these couple couple tests real quick. That's just the line. All right. That's just two more tests that we have to do. Okay? Not a big deal. It probably only takes maybe four or five minutes. Okay? So, just go ahead and take your sunglasses off for me again and just focus on me. Okay? All right. You see the tip of this tan pen? All right. What color is that? Silver. >> Silver? Okay. Just go ahead and focus on here. Mhm. Okay. All right. You can relax with that one. If you want to keep your sunglasses off, it doesn't it doesn't really matter, but it might be helpful to just keep them off. It's not really that sunny right now. Well, it's not my sunglasses. It's my prescription. Your prescription? Okay. You can you can keep them on then. Um okay. If you want to come over here, we're going to start the second test. So, I have to walk on that line? Yeah. Yeah. Hey. The one thing I would offer to do is if she wants to remove the shoes and do it in socks, she can. No, but can I just keep my shoes on? You want to keep everything on? Yep, that's fine. Okay. So, I'm going to give some basic instructions and you're just going to follow me. Okay? I'm going to demonstrate what you're going to do. This is just a walk and turn. Okay? So, we're going to start in the starting position. So, put your left foot in the center of the line. Your left foot. That's your right foot. >> My left foot in the Yep. Left foot in the center of the line. >> And just walk straight? Hang on. Let me finish the instructions. And then you're going to put your right foot right heel to your left foot's toes like this. In front of the line. Your arms are going to be down at your sides. Yep. Just like that. And you're going to watch where you go. Don't move until I tell you to start the test. Okay? Do you understand? Do you understand? >> Yes. Okay. When I tell you to begin, you're going to make nine heel-to-toe steps. I'm going to demonstrate. One. Two. So, nine. Three. Just like that. You understand? I just did three. Up to nine. I just did three. You're going to do nine. You understand? Yes, sir. Okay. Once you get to the ninth step, you're going to leave your lead foot placed firmly on the yellow line. You're going to make a series of small steps with your rear foot turning around and you're going to make nine heel-to-toe steps back like such. So, one. Two. Three. All the way until nine. Again, I only did three cuz I'm demonstrating. You're going to do nine. Do you understand? Yes, sir. Okay. When I It's a couple things. When you start the test, I want you to watch where you're going. I want you to count your steps loud enough to where I can hear them. All right. Okay? And I want you to keep your arms at your sides. Do you understand? Yeah. Okay. You can begin the test. So, three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Stumble. Eight. Nine. And then turn. Continue the test just like I demonstrated. I got a little confused and turned. Just just like I demonstrated. Your proper turn. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. No heel to toe. Okay. You can relax. Okay. So, we've got one more test. Okay? So, that was the walk and turn. Next test is not going to take long. It's going to be the one-legged stand. Do you understand? Okay. Come over here. You don't have to be on the line for this one. Okay? So, the starting position. I want to put you in the starting position again. Just feet together. Arms down at your sides just like the last one. All right. So, let's put put your feet together. Like this? Yep. Just like that. Okay? Just nice and relaxed. So, that's the starting position. Okay? You're not going to start until I tell you to do so. Do you understand? Okay. When I tell you to start, you can pick either your left or right leg. It's up to your choosing. You're going to elevate it off the ground just like this. You're going to keep your foot horizontal to the ground. You're going to watch your foot and you're going to count out loud. Okay? It's going to sound like this. 1,001. 1,002. 1,003. You're just going to keep counting like that until I tell you to stop. Okay? Till the test is complete. So, couple things. When you're like this doing the position, keep your arms at your side. Keep your arms at your side. Yep. Try not to wobble, lift your arms. I don't want to see any hopping or anything. If your foot does touch the ground, that's fine. Not a big deal. Just bring it back up. Okay? So, wait. Do I lift my arms like over so like this? Yep. Just like that. Yep. You're going to do that. You're going to look down at your foot. You're going to count out. 1,001. 1,002. 1,003. So on and so forth until >> How long >> count? Until the task. It's it's not that long. I'll tell you when you can stop, okay? Do you understand? Yeah. All right. Do you have any questions? No, not really. Okay. Okay, you can begin. 1 2 3 4 5 >> properly counting. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 How long do I go? Until I tell you to stop. Yes, ma'am. 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 >> stop. Okay, you can relax. Okay. So, Sydney, for right now, all right, we're going to place you under arrest for suspected DUI, okay? For what? Yep, just right now, all right. We'll explain more what's going on. Yeah, you're under arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, ma'am. That's the intoxicating substance to be cannabis. Can you call my mom? We will take care of that. Listen, I'm going to double lock these so they don't tighten up on you, all right? All right, can you call my mom? Yep, we will. Call my mom. I think I have a 10-10 10-11. Call my mom. We will. We'll we'll take care of it. Call my mommy. All right. You're fine. You're 21. You're an adult. Very skinny. Please call my mom. We'll bring the phone with you. You'll get that opportunity, okay? PLEASE CALL MY MOM. >> [screaming] >> YEAH, I'M GOING TO TIGHTEN THIS ONE JUST A LITTLE MORE. PLEASE call my mom. >> Sydney, relax. Relax. Please call my mommy. Please. Okay, we'll You'll have the opportunity to do that later, okay? >> Please later, when I'm in the cell. When I can't get out. Yeah, you'll get out. Yeah, very skinny. That's going to be the last one. Hang on. Okay. All right, Sydney, we're going to go over here. We can stand here. Do you have anything under your car? My cousin done it on me. Pardon me? I don't know. My cousin done it. Stop. Stop. Don't reach. GET LET GO OF IT. LET GO OF IT. >> [screaming] >> LET GO. LET GO. LET GO. LET GO OF THE GUN. I GOT IT. I GOT IT. I GOT IT. I'M SORRY. LET GO. I'LL just take it out of me. I'm sorry. I'm scared. It's so scary. I'm sorry. >> We're calm. We're calm. We're calm. We're good. I mean, I can't breathe. Well, you don't grab it if you fire it or you shot somebody. I'm sorry. I'm doing it for you. I'm sorry, sir. My life is over. I didn't do nothing. I promise. I go to the gun range. I'm clean. You can search me. I promise, y'all. I promise, Y'ALL. MY DEAD COUSIN. I don't got nothing. I go to the gun range with my brother, my cousin. Help [laughter] me. They might be pregnant, too. I don't know. All right, can she search? Go ahead and go ahead and stand up. Here we go. [laughter] Stand up. Stand up. Yeah. Let's finish the search and then Yeah. Y'all got me. All right. I don't got nothing. I promise I'm clean. I didn't shoot nobody. >> All right, we got to continue what we're doing. All right, we're good. >> paper behind. I go to the gun range. I go to the gun range. I promise you I do. >> Okay, I understand. You got a gun permit on you? Huh? No, but I go to the gun range. They they allow us to >> concealed carry, but we can talk about that later. You want to come with us search? >> All right. They allow us to bring guns to the gun range, though. >> Okay. All right, it would have been nice if you had told us about it from the beginning. You got a permit? Paper bag. I wasn't worried about the gun until her hands got on it. >> I said. Yeah. I wasn't worried about the gun until her hands got on it and then she wouldn't release it. >> But she's going to pull the trigger, you know. All right, put it in the trunk. Is there one in? He's going to There wasn't one in there. There wasn't one in the chamber. Good job. What's up with you and guns, man? So, you got gloves? Yep. Let's do a search incident to arrest. Yep. Go do the back seat, on the driver's side. We'll knock this out real quick. Yeah, she said the one was in the center. But I don't think there there might not be actually any. Yep, I'm on. If you find drugs, guns, whatever, Yep. get it good on camera first and then we can recover it. Yep. You can recover that. That's probably going to be the burnt marijuana she's talking about. So, in the center console on this uh Ziploc bag is what appears to be some uh marijuana. There's still a strong odor of burnt marijuana in the vehicle. I'm going to put the gun in my cruiser. Following the tense struggle, the suspect was safely disarmed and taken into police custody. She was transported to jail and formally charged with felony aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, carrying a concealed firearm, driving under the influence of drugs, and possession of marijuana. Because she made statements about wanting to end her life during the arrest, she was also held under the Florida Baker Act for a mental health evaluation. Her vehicle was impounded and the loaded Glock handgun was secured into evidence.