Focus on the tip of my finger. Follow my finger with your eyes only without moving your head. Do not take your eyes off my finger until we have completed the test. Do you understand? >> Police respond swiftly to a call from a deeply concerned father who fears for the safety of his children. According to him, his kids, who were currently riding in the car with their mother, told him over the phone that she appeared to be acting strangely, possibly impaired. Using the GPS location from an iPad in the vehicle, officers are able to pinpoint her location to a nearby parking lot and move in immediately to check on the welfare of the children. As officers approach the vehicle, they're immediately met with the sound of children crying from inside. The distress is clear even before any questions are asked, setting a serious tone for the encounter. The children's visible fear adds urgency to the officer's actions as they prepare to make contact with the driver, their mother. [Music] Hey, >> I'm Officer Shoemaker with the Alfall Police Department. >> Can you do me a favor? Go ahead and shut the vehicle off and step outside for me. Okay. >> Oh, Lord. What happened? >> What do you mean? What happened? You got blood all over your leg and you got stuff everywhere. >> Oh, that that is uh Yeah. >> Scratching. >> Just scratching. Can you come over here? >> Yeah. >> So, where are we where were we headed tonight? >> Um I was taking my girls to a dance class. >> To dance class? >> Yeah. >> Where were you coming from? >> Edwardsville. >> Edwardsville. Is that where you picked them up at? >> Um no. I picked them up at school. >> Where do they go to school at? Um, yeah. >> Okay. Where were you at before you picked him up from school? >> My house. >> Where's that at? >> Edwardsville. >> Edwardsville. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Were you drinking at all today? >> No. >> No. You had nothing to drink today? >> No. >> No. Okay. Cuz your your eyes look like they're a little red, a little glossy. >> No. I Yeah. and and having the the little fall down thing, the way we got the car parked. There's there's a lot of things that kind of allude to the fact that you've probably been drinking a little bit. >> So, >> okay, whatever. >> Do you take medications? >> I do. >> What kind of medications do you take? >> I take a >> Okay. >> And I take um uh um sorry. So, I take um Hang on. >> No, we're going to stay right here. So, you take When did you take >> um this morning? >> This morning? >> Yeah. >> What time? >> Uh probably about 6. >> What other kind of medication did you take with it? >> Um fish oil. >> Okay. >> Uh CoQ10. Um and then probably vitamin B. Okay. >> Vitamin D. >> So, so where is dance at? dance is um down the street. >> What's the name of the place? >> Um >> honestly, sir, I don't know. Yeah. No. >> Have you taken him to there before? >> Yes, I have. >> You have? Okay. Does sound about right? >> Yes. >> Fantastic. So, is there a reason we're having a hard time getting there today? Because >> No. >> Well, so you we were made aware. Okay. of of your potential condition. Okay. Well, before we came in in contact with you >> and you have been back and forth over here quite a bit. Okay. >> No, not quite a bit. Maybe twice. >> Okay. That's still more than normal. If you know where you're going, it doesn't seem normal to you. >> That's not more than normal, but Okay. Okay. Water. >> So, so water. >> Yeah. Water. >> Okay. So, what I'd like to do is I'd like to run you through a couple of tests because I can smell the alcohol in your breath. Okay. um your your your speech does appear to be altered. >> All right. And you've had difficult time locating a place that you've been to more than more than one time. Okay. So, I like to run you through a couple tests just to make sure that you're okay to drive. All right. >> If you are okay to drive, okay, then no harm, no foul and we'll go from there. >> Does that sound okay? >> Yeah. >> Fantastic. Um I almost wonder if they'll let us inside the KC Hall. >> Fine. It's not pouring at rain. It's that bad. >> Yeah. But >> I got your camera on. >> Do you have my camera? Okay. Okay. >> Do you have any eye abnormalities? Contacts, glasses, anything like that? >> Yeah. No, probably eye abnormalities, but they're not >> What kind of eye What kind of eye abnormalities? >> Normal. >> Well, it's normal. I don't know what normal would be. Normal to me is not having any eye abnormalities. So, what kind of eye abnormalities would you have that you would consider to be normal? >> I don't know. So just >> when questioned about whether she has consumed any alcohol, the woman firmly denies it. Instead, she attributes her impaired state to a mix of prescription medications and an assortment of vitamins. Her explanation, however, does little to ease the officer's concerns, especially given the emotional state of the children and her visible condition. The officers initiate a series of field sobriety tests to better assess her fitness to drive. From the outset, she appears unsteady and disoriented. >> No one help. Uh, so what I need you to do is go ahead and stand with your heels and toes together, hands at your side, just like this. Okay. All right. >> And I'm going to need you to remain in that position until the test concludes. All right. Focus on the tip of my finger. Follow my finger with your eyes only without moving your head. Do not take your eyes off my finger until we have completed the test. Do you understand? >> Can you Can you see my thing? Keep both of your eyes open for me. All right. Keep your heels and toes together for me. Heels and toes toes together. Heels and toes together. Keep your arms at your side. Okay. >> Okay. >> Just focus on the tip of my finger. Nope. You're okay. >> All right. You got to you got to stay focused on the tip of my finger. Okay. What do you mean? >> Body camera's facing me. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, I know. But I don't want I can't stand this way cuz it my arm doesn't move that far. Okay. Yeah, you can blink a few times, but remain focused on the tip of my finger. Okay. >> Okay. You can blink, but you got to make sure you stay focused. Okay. >> Okay. >> You got one over again. You got to be able to stay focused on tip. Okay. You keep going back to center. You got to stay on my finger. All right. >> I apologize. Okay. Stay focused on tip my finger. Okay. Keep your heels and toes together for me. All right. You got to stay still. >> I'm sorry. >> Okay. You ready? >> Yep. >> Can you see my finger still? >> Yes. >> All right. >> Okay. You got to keep your head straight. Follow with your eyes only. Okay. I know you you may not think you're moving your head, but you're moving your head. You got to keep your head still. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> The last thing we're going to do is go straight up. Keep your head still. Eyes follow. Right. You ready? We're go straight up. You got to keep your eyes focused. Okay. >> Sorry. >> Okay. >> She struggles to maintain her balance, fumbles her steps, and has difficulty keeping her eyes focused. Her responses to basic questions are inconsistent and often contradictory, further raising red flags. Heels and toes together, arms down at your side. Okay, we're going to go straight up. One more time. Straight up. Okay. All right. You can go and relax for just a second. Okay. The next thing we're going to do is do what's called a walk and turn. Okay. Do you have any leg injuries, back injuries, anything that would keep you from being able to walk a straight line? >> Um, this hip is a little jacked up, but that's okay. >> Is there anything that would keep you from being able to walk a straight line? >> Um, uh, I don't think it should be able to keep me from walking a straight line. >> Okay, >> for sure. >> Give me just a second. Let's see. A little bit. Yeah. So, this is probably as close as we're going to get. You want to come over here for me for just a second? Okay. Does that look like a pretty straight line here on the ground for you? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do you think you'd be able to walk that pretty straight? >> I I mean, I think >> Okay. And are those shoes pretty comfortable? I know you've you've fallen already. We've got some scrapes on her leg. >> Oh, no. This is just from the dogs. >> It's just from the dogs. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. So, what I want you to do is I want you to place your left foot on the line. >> Left foot. Yep. Right foot in front of your left touching heel to toe. and keep your arms at your side. And then you're gonna stay in that position until I tell you to begin. Do you understand? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, all right. I want you to stop. Take your step back. Okay. We're going to put our left foot on the line. Put your left foot on the line. >> Mhm. >> On the yellow line. Put your left foot on the yellow line. I want you put your right foot in front of your left. >> Let me get my leg going. Okay. Now put your right foot in front of your left and put your hands down at your side and remain in that position. Heel touching toe and remain in that position until I tell you to begin. Do you understand? >> Yeah. >> Are we going to be able to stand in position there for me? >> No, it's my hip. >> No. Okay. >> Okay. I don't want you I don't want you to get hurt. Okay. So, if we're unable to stand still >> Okay. >> I don't want you to fall and get hurt. Okay. So, if we can't perform this fall and get hurt either, >> um it's just my hip. Okay. So, do you do you >> do you work anywhere? >> Yeah, I work at the VA. >> Even though she repeatedly insists that she's fine and capable of driving, her physical and verbal behavior suggest otherwise. The officers observe multiple signs of intoxication and determine that she poses a significant danger to herself, her children, and others on the road. >> What do you do at the VA? >> I'm a nurse. >> Okay. So, does that require a lot of standing and walking? Do you have any restrictions at work where you can't stand for a period of time? But it's just a lot of like they're like come come balance and I'm like I can't really balance. >> But there's no you have no work restrictions from the doctor or anything like that saying you can't do certain activities or anything like that? >> Not at all. >> Okay. All right. >> So can we try again to stay stay in position? >> Try again. Yeah, for sure. >> All right. So what we're going to do hold on before I do it. I'm going to kind of give you a rundown. >> All right. Well, I'm going to give you a quick rundown. >> So what you're going to do is you're going to put your left foot on the line. Right foot in front of the the left, heel touching toe >> and your arms out at the side. You have to stay in that position until I tell you to begin the test. Do you understand? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, go ahead. Left foot on the line. >> Right foot in front of the left. Arms out at the side. Arms out at your Okay. >> I just I just balance. >> Okay. But you've got to have your your heel touching toe. Okay. Just like that. Okay. Stay in that position. That's how I tell you to begin. Do you understand? >> Yeah. I'm just I can't balance. >> Okay. All right. >> Do you want to have a PBT on them? >> Wolf does. >> Wolf does. >> We got a PVT. >> I do. >> Okay. Um with you not being able to maintain balance for that one. >> Okay. I understand you don't have any restrictions for work, >> right? >> Okay. But you're you're not being able to stand still. I don't want you to fall down and get hurt. Okay. So, we're in lie of doing the last two tests which requires some some coordination and balance. Okay. Uh which it doesn't appear that we're gonna be able to accomplish that. So, what we do have here is we have a PBT. It's called a portable breath test. Okay. Um >> so, if you're willing to you blow into this until I tell you to stop. It's just like blowing up a balloon. >> Yeah. Can I can you I sit? >> Nope. We're going to stand right here. Okay. >> Um I I don't think you're really allowing me to sit. >> You're correct. I'm not allowing you to sit. >> As the tests continue, she becomes increasingly resistant. She repeatedly asks to sit down, claiming exhaustion or discomfort, but officers deny the request for safety reasons, fearing she may attempt to flee or harm herself. When she refuses to proceed with the evaluations, officers are left with no choice but to place her under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. >> And I'm not allowing you to get back inside of your vehicle. >> Okay. Okay. Well, I think you need to allow me to sit. >> I do not need to allow you to sit. >> Okay. Well, then we're we're we're going to um we're going to >> What are we going to do? >> You're You're going to allow me to sit. >> No. >> Yeah, you are. >> No, we're not going to argue about it. So, do you want Do you want to >> You're right. We're not going to argue. >> All right. Do me a favor. Turn around. Put your hands behind your back. You're under arrest. We're driving under the influence of alcohol. We're going to walk right over here. Okay. Let's go. Go ahead. Step in there carefully. I got you. No. >> Hey, sorry. I didn't expect to be doing anything on the way to drive Taylor off. What was your first name again? >> You go away. >> Okay. >> Is your name? >> It's go away. >> Will stand over here. I could smell it. >> Oh god. It was It was >> Oh, that's water actually. >> Is it? Well, she's trying to show up. It was very, very strong. Oh man. >> Oh, when we pulled up, did you you were right here? When we pulled up with the windows down, they were screaming and crying. Grab some photos of those real quick and then I'm going to go back to the PD and start getting her booked. Look at her rims up here. >> I was going to say, >> oh yeah, she did something. >> Yeah. Well, I mean, you see the side of it. >> Yeah, she cut she look front. It's the length of the car. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Tyler. >> Jesus. I bet I bet if you drive up and down 50, you'll find it. >> The curb caught the ram and a pole caught the >> Yeah, >> she did that earlier today. >> Oh, that was earlier today. >> Yeah, the husband. >> Back at the station, a breathalyzer test reveals a shocking blood alcohol concentration of 321, over four times the legal limit. The investigation doesn't stop there. A subsequent search of her vehicle uncovers empty liquor bottles, confirming their suspicions. Additionally, officers notice visible damage to one of the tires and the rim, suggesting she may have already struck something before being stopped. Fortunately, the children's father arrives at the scene shortly after the arrest and is able to safely take them home. Thanks to the quick actions of law enforcement and the father's vigilance, a potentially tragic situation is avoided.