It's a really bad day for me. >> Till I touch I don't have a lot of balance. I don't have a lot of core strength. >> I have a lot of papers cuz I'm not good >> I'm not going to give you guys a warning to search my car. >> At 3:11 in the morning on February 10th, 2023, Tampa police officer Barr initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that had just run a red light. It was the kind of stop that happens a thousand times a night across the state of Florida. Routine, unremarkable, the sort of thing that ends with a citation and a warning and both parties going home. But when the officer approached the driver's side window and looked inside, this stop became something else entirely. >> Oh, hello. How are you? >> Good. You have a driver's license with you? Okay. You know why I'm stopping you? >> No, not really any idea. >> No idea? >> No. >> Okay. You ran a red light back there at Howard and Kennedy. >> sorry. >> What's that? Okay. Do you have your registration with you? Where are you headed to tonight? >> I'm literally going to a friend's house. I'm from Orlando. I'm out of town. >> Oh, okay. Just you're visiting? >> Yeah, I'm visiting. >> Okay. Where are you coming from this evening? >> From from Orlando. I literally came straight here. Sorry about >> So, you you just arrived here from Orlando, you said? >> Okay. >> I have a lot of papers in here. I have a lot of papers in here, like mainly tires and stuff. >> Okay. Is the car registered in your name? >> Yeah, it is. It is. >> Okay. >> Give me one Oh. Actually got a lot of stuff in here. I have my insurance card. >> Okay. >> The woman behind the wheel was 21 years old, was not wearing a shirt, had marijuana shake visibly scattered across her body and clothing. >> will hold up. I have it on my phone on my way. >> Okay. I'll just ask you a couple questions, okay? How much have you had to drink tonight? >> I haven't drank anything. >> Okay. What about marijuana use? Have you smoked marijuana recently? >> No, no, no, no, no. >> Okay. You have marijuana shake all over your pants. >> I um I planned on it, but I didn't. >> Okay. All right, hang tight. Let me check your license, okay? All right, Melissa. Do you mind stepping >> and registration for you. >> Okay. Do you mind stepping out? I want to check and make sure you haven't had anything to drink, okay? >> Fine. >> We'll go over to the sidewalk. There's cars that come by here pretty fast. >> Uh what's your reasoning? >> Well, I'll tell you once we get over to the sidewalk, okay? I don't want to stand here in the middle of the street and get hit by a car. >> No problem. Can you just hold my window? >> Sure. We'll just go right over here. That way we're out of the road. >> No no problem. >> Okay. Listen, what I what I want to do Oh, you don't have to >> Her name was Melissa Seales. She had over 100,000 followers on Instagram. She was a self-described model, singer, songwriter, and according to the bio she would update after this evening. >> I I >> and registration. It's all here. >> Yeah, you can hold it in your hand. I'm I'm not I'm not going to need it. I I was able to look it up, okay? >> Nice. >> Um what I want to do is just take a look at your eyes, okay? All right, good. Um do you wear contacts or anything? Okay. Any medical problems? >> Uh like >> Like on medication? Okay. Um if you do me a favor, just uh can you stand with your feet together like this and just arms down to your side? You can You can hold that stuff in your your hand there. What What I want you to do is follow this red light as I move it back and forth, but keep your head still, okay? Are you able to move your hair back out of your out of your the side of your face? >> Perfect. All right, if you have to blink during this, that's fine. You can blink, okay? >> Mhm. >> All right. Try to keep your head still. Try to keep your head still. All right. Try not to shake your head up and down, okay? Cuz it makes it harder, all right? Thank you. >> Got you. >> All right. >> Nerves have it. I have >> It's okay. No problem. All you got to >> disorder if you can't tell by um >> No No problem. All you got to do is follow that red light, okay? Concentrate on that red light. >> At 3:00 in the morning on a Tampa street, the body cam told a different story. The woman Officer Barr encountered was not the woman on Instagram. She was impaired. She was scattered. >> It's a habit cuz I'm a model. >> Got you. >> I think I just follow the camera. >> All right. You got to watch that. Try to hold off on talking cuz it makes it hard for me to see, okay? >> Okay. Okay. >> Again, keep your eyes on that light, okay? It's very important. >> No, you're still going. >> It's very Listen, it's very important that It's very important that you you you stop moving your head up and down and and talking and stuff like that cuz what happens is it moves your head and then I I can't see >> a model. >> I can't see what I'm looking for in your eyes, okay? Um if you if it's very concerning if you So, this is part of a field sobriety exercise. If you can't even follow a light, >> No, I'm just playing. I'm playing with you. Like I'm >> That's really, really concerning, okay? I just I just want you to take it serious, okay? Because if you're not impaired, we I I want to be able to cancel it completely, okay? All right. >> She had run a red light at an hour when the only people running red lights are people who should not be behind the wheel. >> Try to keep your head still. That's good. >> My mom would not be happy with me right now. >> Hold off on talking, okay? We got to get through all of this. >> Okay. >> Try to keep your head perfectly still, okay? Look out for you, so I'm trying to give you a good chance here, okay? >> Yeah, just so you know. >> Try to keep your head still here cuz I'm going to move it real slow. >> And she had marijuana shake, the loose crumbled remnants of marijuana visible all over her body and clothing. Okay. There's a There's just a couple other exercises I'm going to ask you to do, okay? >> All right. >> Um you want to put that >> sorry. What was What was the reasoning for this? >> Well, there There's There's quite a few reasons, okay? And I'm not going to get into all of them right now, but >> just left the parking lot, like I just >> Which parking lot did you leave? >> The Chipotle parking lot. Like I just left. Like I Okay. >> Okay. And And where did you Where were you at tonight? >> I was at McDonald's and I'm going to my friend's house, which is like 10 minutes away. >> I got you. Okay. Um you want to put that stuff back in your car so so your hands are completely free. I'll just have you come right back up here. And let me get something out of my car and I'll be right with you. 672, do you have a 54? Come. You want to take just a couple of steps back for me so we got some room here. That's good. The DUI investigation began. >> Wow. All right. >> All right. Yeah, Melissa, what um you want to just slip your phone in your pocket? >> Yeah. >> Cool. >> Sure. Here you go. >> All right. I'm going to um give you some some very specific instructions, okay? >> And I know you said you had difficulty concentrating because of >> I mean, I have ADHD, like it's bad. >> And I'm going to take that into consideration. If you have to ask me questions when I'm done telling you how to do this, then you you'll have an opportunity to ask me questions. But, try your very best to listen to everything I have to say, okay? And then at the end of that, if you have questions, we'll go through that, okay? So, while I'm doing this, what I want you to do is place your left foot on the line. It already is. Then, take your right foot, place it in front of your left foot so it touches heel to toe. Just put your arms down. Yep, arms down to your side, and and don't begin walking until I tell you to start, okay? Great. >> You have my core strength, right? >> Yeah, when I tell you to When I tell you to start walking, I want you to take nine heel to toe steps, counting your steps out loud as you walk down this line, okay? >> One. >> I don't want you to start yet, okay? >> Two. >> I don't want you to start yet. When I tell you to. So, go ahead and put your left foot on the line, right foot in front of your left foot so it touches heel to toe. Arms down to your side. Great. >> The body cam footage of Melissa Seals' arrest plays out in three distinct phases. Each one is a strategy. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> But, I have to first show you how to do it. >> Okay. >> So, when I tell you to start, you'll take nine heel to toe steps, counting your steps out loud as you walk down the line. >> All right. >> You're then going to turn around, walk back down the line, nine heel to toe steps, counting your steps out loud. I'm going to use this line right here to show you how to do it, okay? >> All right. >> It'll look like this. One, two, three, and so on until you get to nine. >> All right. >> Let's just pretend that's your ninth step. I want you to leave that front foot on the line, remove >> remove only your back foot, taking a series of small steps, just like I'm doing, okay? And then you walk back down the line, nine heel to toe steps, counting your steps out loud. One, two, three, and so on until you get to nine. >> All right. >> Okay? So, go ahead and place your right foot back in front of your left foot so it touches heel to toe, arms down to your side. I don't want you to start yet. Take one step back. I don't want you to start yet. So, right foot in front of your left foot so it touches >> Yes, sir. >> touches heel to toe, arms down to your side. Great. Now, I want you to remember a couple of things while you walk. >> Okay. >> But I need you to stay in that position, okay? >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah. Arms down to your side. So, when you're walking, I want you to look at your feet. >> Okay. >> Count your steps out loud. >> All right. >> Keep your arms down to your side just like this. >> All right. >> Okay? See how I'm doing it? Arms down to your side just like this. >> Sir. >> Okay? And then once you begin >> Phase one, flirting. When he handed her a notepad for the sobriety test instructions, she asked if it was his phone number. >> Stop walking until you've completely finished it. >> All right. >> Okay? Now, before you start, do you have any questions? >> No. >> You understand how to >> My legs are sore, so this is honestly hard like in general. >> Do you understand how to do this completely? >> Okay. Then you >> a lot better than when I'm just standing still in this awkward position. >> You can begin when you're ready. >> All right. Oh. Okay, let me start again. Honestly, my legs are really sore, so it's actually >> Okay. Do the best you can. >> One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. 10. 11. Small steps. And then one. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. >> Okay. Next, what I want you to do is you can stand right there. >> All right. >> Just put your feet together, and then arms down to your side. Now, you can forget about the line cuz we're not going to use it for this, okay? >> You just happen to be standing on it. Don't do anything until I tell you to start, all right? But when I tell you to, you're You're to raise one foot. You can choose to Don't do it yet. You choose whichever one you want. You raise it so it's about 6 in off of the ground. I want you to point your toes straight out so the bottom of your foot Not yet. >> When the officer informed her that she had not passed, she responded with two words that summarized her relationship with reality that evening. >> Do you count it out loud? >> Oh, like 1,001, 1,002. 1,003. 1,004. 1,005. 1,006. That's fine. 1,001. 1,002. I don't have a lot of balance. I don't have a lot of core strength. >> Just continue. >> 1,001. 1,002. 1,003. 1,004. 1,005. 1,006. 1,007. >> Okay, you can put your foot down. >> All right. >> Next, we're going to face this way. Again, we'll put your feet together like this. Your arms straight down to your side, just like that. Okay? Put both your arms back together like they're praying, just like this. Okay? >> Okay. >> So, hold them together Don't interlace your fingers quite yet. Just hold them like that where you're praying. Okay? >> I want to let you search me first cuz I'm not drunk. I've been sober for >> Okay. And And understand if if you haven't been drinking, the medicines that you've taken are certainly impairing you. So, >> I was never told I couldn't drive on the medication. >> It It probably says them right on the bottle. >> does not. I promise. I'll show you my bottle right now. >> Okay. Is it in the car? >> Yes, it is in the car. I'll show you right now. >> Come on up here. Come on up here. >> Okay. This is just >> The officer was patient but firm. The results were clear, and Melissa Seals was placed in handcuffs. >> Do you have Let me ask you a very important question. Do you have anything illegal on you or in your pockets right >> No, no, no. >> Okay, cuz there's marijuana shake on you. Is there any marijuana hidden on you anywhere? >> No. >> We're going to have a female to search. If If there's a female okay? If they search you and miss something in their search and they find it when they get it at the jail, it's an additional felony charge, okay? Right now you're only looking at a misdemeanor charge, okay? You have to tell everybody, okay? Come on here and I'm going to have you have a I'm going to take your phone out of your pocket, okay? >> Okay. >> I'm going to have you have a seat in my car, okay? So, like I said, we we are going to go down to the jail, okay? And I'm going to ask you to do a breath test when we get there, okay? Are you willing to do that? >> What are my rights? >> Well, you don't have to take the breath test, okay? You can refuse it. There's no penalty for refusing it. I don't think there is. I got to look at your driving Have you ever been arrested before? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, if that's true that's true then there's there's um no additional charge for refusing the breath test, okay? However, what it changes is it changes >> Phase three, the backseat lawyer. The moment the handcuffs clicked, the flirting stopped. The giggling stopped. The compliment stopped. >> the um length of suspension that goes on your license, okay? It turns out if you refuse it, it's a 1-year suspension on your license, okay? Does that answer your question? Okay, are you willing to do that when we get to the jail? I can't hear you. >> I don't know. >> You don't know yet? Okay, I'll give you some time to think about it, okay? I don't know where they may be in her pocket if they're not in the car, I don't know. Um I'm not going to make you sit here with it. You can You can take off. You can take off. I know you're out looking, so You are welcome to take off, man. I don't know where the keys are, so Probably in her pocket. It's locked. It's >> I'm sure they're in her pocket. She doesn't know. Ma'am, do you have the car keys in your pocket? >> I thought you had them. >> I don't have your car keys, no. Are you Are you able to get them out of your pocket? >> I know. I can't. >> Do you want to Are you If you stand up, are you able to get them out? >> No. >> I'll go ahead and come on out. >> I'm not going to give you guys a warrant to search my car. >> Well, we have to You don't We don't need a >> I know my rights. You're violating my rights. My family has lots of money. My family has lawyers. I'm going to sue you. >> Not after when you've been arrested on a traffic stop out of a vehicle. Um, there's It's a It's a warrantless search, okay? What happens is we we >> nothing wrong. >> Okay. I'm just explaining to you what's going to happen, okay? Either you can stand up and let me get them out, or we can force you to do it, okay? I'm not lying to you. Everything's on camera. I have no reason to to lie to you, okay? 10-4. What is What if the female is on the way? We'll just wait. Okay. There's She's on the way to do the search, so I'll just wait until she gets here. The keys are down in her pocket, so You can You can You can go if you want to Do you want to go look? I don't care. Yeah, it don't matter, man. Did you call it in already? >> Yeah. >> Okay, cool. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, I have it. It's going to go with us. You'll be able to make phone calls, yes. >> She delivered these lines from the back of a police cruiser with the confidence of someone who believes that wealth and legal threats are a universal get out of jail card. >> So if I need to call her right now? >> Yeah, there's there's I I being honest with you right now, there's no rush to call her right this moment. It's it's not going to change anything. Um Um no, not necessarily. You'll you'll the the the process will be explained to you here in just a minute, okay? Thank you for coming. I appreciate it. She had um she had some marijuana shake all on her pants and stuff when I when I stopped her. So, just to let you know. You can come out. Come on. You can come out here to the sidewalk so we've got some even ground. That's good. I just got to hold on to you here, okay? >> Do you have anything on you? >> No. >> Not at all? You don't forget about a pill or a little bit of weed or anything? >> No, no. Nothing illegal in in my pockets, no. >> Even if they're even if they're prescription pills, we need to >> No, I have nothing illegal in my pockets. Nothing on me. >> Okay. >> Seals refused to take a breathalyzer test. In the state of Florida, refusing a breathalyzer carries you an automatic license suspension. >> Um nothing. >> There's like really long deep pockets or something? >> Yeah, but uh but I'm I'm not letting you search my car though. No warrant on them. >> You're what? But no one can search my car because there's no warrant. Like I know my rights. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Have fun. Have fun. Good. All right. You must come and have a seat again. >> Can I take off my shoes? >> Hold on one second, ma'am. Um no, we don't need to take her shoes off. We'll do that at the jail. We'll do the jail thing. Uh have a seat. Thanks for coming, I appreciate it. The will you do me a favor? I I've already done I'll do the the all the paperwork on it. All the tow stuff, it's already been called. It was called like 15 minutes ago. They should be here anytime. >> Okay. >> If if they don't get here by the time I'm done going through that car, would you mind just just sitting here waiting till they come? All you got to do is get a get a tow guy's name for me or something. >> She was transported to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for booking. >> Those on the seat for now. We'll be figuring out if there's anything in here. Got a charger. She's got to have one of those little straw deals. Bunch of like looks like a just little butts left of marijuana joints. I know her purse is an Altoids container. It actually looks like an Altoid actually which is one. Yeah, never mind. I thought it was a pill. It is not. So there's a bunch more of those little scraps. What's that? >> How old is she? >> Like 22-ish. >> I guess that's just a guess. >> While Seals sat in the back of the cruiser threatening lawsuits, Officer Barr searched her vehicle. >> All kinds of rolling papers here. We're not going to take all that stuff. Spice grinder, spice grinder with residue. Spice grinder with residue. So, there's three spice grinders with the green residue. I'm going to take off. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. He should be here any minute now. It's on the paperwork. I this I I don't work there. I have nothing to do with that, you know? But But I do need to know if you're going to take that test or not. >> I mean, honestly like just because I know my rights and why I my car should not have been searched. I mean >> Yeah. >> I should >> Okay. Understand that I'm I don't get upset about it. That is completely your choice that that that you have to make. There's I'll get you out. We'll We'll go inside, okay? Give me just 1 second. I got to get your property out of the trunk, okay? >> All right, you can hop out. All right, stand right here for me. Okay, hold on. Okay, we're going to go right to that door right there in the I got to hold you through the parking lot, okay? Once you get inside, I can walk on walk on your own. You can go up just to the right side of the door. That's good right there. Yes. Come on out. Go ahead and go to the right so I can open this next door. >> Her mug shot was taken. She was charged with driving under the influence and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. She was released hours later on a cash bond. And then Melissa Seals went home and did something that tells you everything about who she is and what she learned from the experience.