A woman drives off from a deputy on foot with two children still in her backseat. February 23rd, 2024, Charlotte County, Florida. A concerned bar patron picks up the phone about a mother who looks too impaired to drive. Deputies catch up with her in a pharmacy parking lot. In the car, a 2-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy left alone with the engine running. By the time the stop is over, she's facing three separate charges from one afternoon at the bar. >> The call has been updated. >> Do you have anything >> I have nothing to drink. >> Hello. >> a call for that 3:30 in the parking lot. >> Ma'am, I'm with the Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Team. Reason I'm stopping the Infiniti is we had a call about your vehicle. They were concerned about your ability to operate a vehicle. Um Uh all right, is everything okay? Have you had anything alcohol or anything to drink today? All right, are you on any medications prescribed by a doctor? >> No, sir. Well, anxiety >> Okay. What >> Uh yes. >> How much have you had today? >> Oh, I have anxiety, man. >> We're right in the middle of the pharmacy. Yes. >> Can you make that out? >> Uh it's fine. >> Um last night. >> Okay. All right. Um what were you doing up at Charlie's Pub? >> I had to use the restroom. >> Okay. Okay, well, they're the ones that called. They were concerned about you being able to drive safely. All right. So, I have another vehicle coming. How come you didn't When I got out of the car to walk up to you, you didn't uh you just took off on the access right there. Or did you not even see me? >> No, I I saw the sign. >> No. No, I was behind you when you were at the stop sign. I was walking up to your car and you took off. Okay. >> I'm sorry. >> All right. Well, like I said, right now I'm just waiting. Um how old is the little baby? >> Um she's two >> Oh, okay. >> I took her. >> Took her in the pub? >> Yeah, I just had shoes on. >> You didn't take him? >> No. >> You left him in the car? >> I left vehicle running. I just had to pee. >> Okay. I'm going to get my form. Can you get her out real quick, sir? Tell him all three 13s are out with me. I'm just I'm going to do field sobriety, but she's got two babies in the car, too, so I'm going to have to I'll wait for a third to get here to watch them while I do her. At this time, ma'am, I am concerned about your ability to operate your vehicle safely. I'm seeing a couple of clues and indicators that believe me to be that you may not be able to operate it safely. With that, I'm going to ask you to submit to field sobriety to make sure you're able to operate your Infiniti safely today, okay? Will you do the exercises I'm going to ask of you? >> I will. >> All right. All right. This is the first thing I'm going to do, Miss Patton, is I'm going to check your eyes. All right? So, what I want you to do is stand with your feet together, arms at your side. Do you see that pen? I need you to focus on that pen. When I move it, I'm going to move it in a left-to-right fashion. You're going to follow with your eyes, and your eyes only, keeping your head completely straight. Do you understand? >> Yes, I understand. >> Do you have any questions? >> No, I do not. >> All right. All right, Miss, this time we're going to go upwards. Same thing. Just your eyes, head straight, okay? >> Yes, sir. >> Relax for a moment. All right. This time, what I'm going to do is I'm going to go around your face in a circle twice. You're going to follow with your eyes, your eyes only. After I make that second turn, I'm going to bring it in close to your nose. I'm not going to touch your nose, but it'll be very close. >> Yes, sir. >> As mine, what I'm trying to do is get your eyes to cross. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay? >> Yes, sir. >> All right, Miss Patton. This white line that you're standing on, do you see it? >> Yes, sir. >> You consider it a fairly straight line? >> I do, sir. >> Is it free of any debris that could cause you to trip? >> No, sir. >> It's not. What's on it that could cause you to trip? >> No, sir. >> No, I asked is it free of any debris? >> Oh, yes, sir. >> Okay. I see that you're wearing sandals. Um would you like to take those off and do it barefoot or are you comfortable with your sandals? >> I'm comfortable with my sandals, sir. >> All right. What I'm going to do, ma'am, is at this time I want you to put your left foot directly on the line. Take your right foot, place it directly in front of left like mine, arms at your side, stay in that position. Do not start until I tell you to begin. >> Yes, sir. >> When I tell you to begin, though, Ms. Patton, you're going to take a series of steps counting your steps out loud like such. >> There is >> One, two, three. You're going to go all the way to nine. Upon reaching nine, you're going to leave that lead foot in place. You're going to take that back foot. You'll step out, make a series of steps turning all the way around. You're then going to return back down the line another nine steps like such. One, two, three. Go ahead and assume the position. Right foot in front of left. All right. Don't Don't start yet. Wait till I tell you to start. So, left foot on the line, right foot in front of left touching heel to toe. Right foot Right foot in front of left. Are you ready? >> Yes, sir, I'm ready. I'm sorry. Yes, sir, I am ready. >> All right. Put your foot right foot in front of left. That's the starting position. Now, begin. >> Yes, sir. Woo! >> Ms. Patton, do you remember the instructions? >> One foot in front of the other for nine. >> Yep. And then turn and go back nine, right? >> Okay. >> How many steps did you take? >> I didn't count. I'm sorry. Do you want me to start again? >> No, no. Just continue back the other way. All right. Come back down. How many steps was that? >> Honestly, I GOT 16 STEPS. >> OKAY. All right. >> I can do it again. >> No, we're fine. Do you have a stopwatch for me in a second? >> Yeah, I can get it. >> Just wait right here on this line for me. >> Yes, sir. >> We got two more exercises to do. >> Sir. >> Oh, no. I'll just have you keep the time. It's fine. >> Yeah, let me get it get it ready. >> All right. The next exercise is called the one leg stand. >> Sir. when I tell you to you're going to take the foot of your choice and you're going to raise it approximately 6 in off the ground. It's going to look like this. Your foot will be parallel to the ground, your arms will be straight, your legs will both be straight. 6 in is like a Coke can. Think about resting your foot on top of a Coke can. You're going to count out loud in the manner of such, 1,001, 1,002, 1,003. You're going to continue to count till I say stop. I'm not going to tell you how long I'm going to have you do it for, but I will tell you that I'm about to do it longer than I'm going to have you do it. If at any time you lose your balance or anything like that and have to put your foot down, regain your composure, pick that foot back up, and continue counting where you left off. So, if you have to put it down on a five, when you pick it back up, make sure we start counting again at six. All right. Again, both legs are to remain straight. Foot is parallel to the ground, 6 in off the ground. Arms are at your side, you're looking at your foot, and you're counting out loud 1,001, 1,002, excuse me, 1,003, and so on. Any questions on what I'm asking you to do? Do you have What What foot do you want to stand on and what foot do you want to raise? >> stand on this, but can you block the wind? It's It's actually very >> It is windy. Like I said, I and I did just do it, but what I can do, I mean I can I can stand to the side, but what I need you to do >> I have no problem standing here. I just want you to block >> Yeah, no. Do you have any Do you have any physical handicaps or ailments that keeps you from doing this? So, you're going to stand on your left and raise your right. Follow when you're ready. Begin. >> And you can stop. All right. Miss Patton, the last exercise is called the finger to nose. >> Okay. >> So, what I need you to do is take both your fingers like this, index fingers. Now, put them in your side, palms forward like mine. Remain in that position until I tell you to start. When I tell you But, switch sides so the sun's not in your eyes. I'd rather have the sun in my eyes. When I tell you to start, you're going to have your head tilted back and your eyes shut. My eyes will stay open to watch you, but your eyes will be shut, okay? >> Yes, sir. >> If I say left, I'm going to call out a series of left or right. >> Yes, sir. >> If I say left, it's straight up, tip of the nose, tip of the finger, and right back down to your side. I will not remind you to put it down. >> Yes, sir. >> If I say right, it'll be the exact same, straight up, tip of nose, tip of finger, and right back down to your side. >> So, we're clear, that's the tip of the finger. Not the nail, not the pad, not the sides. >> Yes, sir. >> If this is your nose, and that's your and that's the bridge, and those are your nostrils, it's literally the tip to tip. So, it's like this. Nope, like this. Straight on. >> So, >> And then right down. >> That. >> This. Just like that. Yes, ma'am. >> So, turn it around to my >> Yep, to your nose and right back down to your side. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Miss Patton, head back, eyes shut. Left. Right. Remember the instructions? Remember the instructions? >> Yes, sir. >> You got to put your hand down. >> Oh, sorry. Sorry. Sorry. >> Left. Right. Right. Left. All right. I got one one last exercise. It's a balance exercise. Face that stop sign real quick. I'm going to explain how to balance for you real quick in a minute. >> Florida doesn't require a breath test to make a DUI arrest. Officers can rely on what's right in front of them, bloodshot eyes, shifting answers, and roadside tests that don't go her way. That combination is called probable cause. Under Florida law, it's enough on its own. She asks if her anxiety medication could be the real problem. The answer is yes, and it doesn't help her case. Florida's DUI law covers impairment from alcohol or from any legal prescribed drug. If the bottle says don't operate machinery, that warning doesn't disappear behind the wheel. There's a second charge stacking quietly in the background. Florida statute 316.193 doesn't just punish driving under the influence. It also punishes driving impaired with a minor under 18 in the car, a separate harsher offense. And there's a third element sitting in plain sight, a 7-year-old left alone in a running car outside a bar at night. That's neglect of a child, and no one has to get hurt for the charge to apply. >> Miss Amanda, at this time you're under arrest for DUI. Do you have somebody that can come get the children? Who can come get the children? All right, we're going to need to call him. I don't want to have I don't want to have DCF have to come out here for them. What's your husband's phone number? >> I'm being I'm being What? rights. >> You're being arrested for DUI. Driving under the influence. And that influence encompasses alcohol and medications. Hey, you're being arrested cuz you're not able to drive that vehicle safely. The clues and indicators you provided to me during field sobriety are enough to affect the arrest on you. So, we're going to go to my car. Nothing on you that's going to get you in trouble with the jail, drugs, weapons, or anything. Okay. Is there anything in the vehicle that's going to get you in trouble? Drugs, marijuana, weapons, anything? Hey, though, it's questions I have to ask. >> I said no. >> I know, and I'm just I just saying, it's just questions we have to ask. >> The baby is with me. I have your cell phone number. >> What's your husband's name? >> Charles. >> Charles. >> to tell me what I what I failed? >> It's not pass or fail, but I'll tell you that you gave me enough clues and indicators to arrest you. >> Oh, did I? >> Oh, yes. Absolutely. >> My anxiety medicine that I didn't tell you about have anything to do with this? >> Absolutely. >> steroids? >> Absolutely. >> All right. I >> If you look at your medication bottle, it says, "Do not operate machinery." >> No, and >> And absolutely. >> that I didn't tell you about. >> Okay. It could be. I'm not sure what that is, but the the anxiety medications, absolutely, ma'am. Okay. Yeah. Okay. She'll be right back up. You got to hold take take a seat, Amanda. She said the husband. Traffic stopped. So, that should be the husband. We got a 2-year-old and an infant in the car. Do you want to ask me I'm going to start type something to real quick. Do you want to ask her if there's a parent, a grandparent? We'll get anybody. At this point, any relative is better than DCF. >> Yeah, that's your unicorn. What's its name? Is that your brother? He's crying. What's your brother's name? What happened? A boo-boo? In my hair? Yeah, I got a couple of those. What you watching? Sing? He's crying. How old are you? Uh-oh. Are you watching Sing? It's my favorite movie. Yeah, he's crying. What's his name? What is it? Are you trying to give me your unicorn? This is your unicorn, though. Do you want him? You want me to have him? Yeah? What's its name? Yeah. What's What's on your feet? You don't know? Yeah. That? That's my radio. So, that's how I talk to people. That's how I talk to my coworkers. You have pretty eyes. They're blue like mine. It's talking, yeah. Yeah. I'm going to go make sure your brother's okay, all right? I'll be right over there though, okay? I'm not going to leave. I'm just going to walk around to go over there, okay? I'll be right back. Hi, buddy. Hi. HI. HI. YES. Um I'm Yes, I'm still here currently with them. Me and another deputy are. Hi, is this Charles? Charles, this is Corporal Cornett from the Sheriff's Office. I need you to come to Harbor and 41, where the pharmacy is, and pick up your children. Um your wife's been arrested for DUI, and I have the children, the 2-year-old and an infant in the Infiniti, and I need them picked up. 41 and Harbor in Port Charlotte. Are you familiar with Port Charlotte any? Yep. And it'll be the There's There's a 7-Eleven on one corner, and across the street from the 7-Eleven there's a Midway Pharmacy. We're in the pharmacy parking lot. All right, thank you, sir. All right, it's going to be a bit. He's coming from Sarasota. >> Amanda Patton was taken into custody and charged with three separate offenses. Driving under the influence, DUI with a person under 18 in the vehicle, and neglect of a child without great bodily harm. Under Florida statute 827.03, that neglect charge alone is a third-degree felony, up to 5 years in prison, and a $5,000 fine. Stack all three charges together and one stop outside of pharmacy turns into three separate court cases. The lesson here isn't complicated. If you've been drinking, the keys stay in your pocket, and the kids stay out of the bar entirely. She has not been convicted of anything. Under the law, she's presumed innocent unless a court decides otherwise. 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