Inset: Rebecca Beard. Background: Beard allegedly undergoing field sobriety testing after arriving to pick up her daughter at an elementary school in Palm Coast, Florida (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida mother allegedly arrived at her daughter’s elementary school with a blood alcohol concentration nearly four times the legal driving limit—and reportedly could not clearly write the child’s name while attempting to sign her out, authorities said.
Rebecca Beard, 28, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a statement from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident unfolded Thursday at Wadsworth Elementary School in Palm Coast. A staff member alerted the school resource officer after Beard came to the front office to collect her daughter.
According to the sheriff’s office, school employees said Beard had trouble making it through the doorway, spoke with slurred words and had glassy eyes. Staff members also reported that she was unable to legibly write the student’s name on the sign-out paperwork.
When deputies approached, they allegedly noticed that Beard smelled of alcohol and continued to speak with slurred speech. She reportedly told them that she had taken prescription medication the previous night and was simply tired.
Body-camera video captured Beard asking deputies, “Am I in trouble?”
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A deputy told Beard she was not in a condition to drive, but she insisted she could operate the vehicle. Deputies then administered field sobriety exercises, which she allegedly failed.
Investigators also said surveillance footage showed Beard driving erratically while entering the school parking lot.
Following her arrest, Beard submitted to breath testing. The results allegedly showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.298, compared with Florida’s legal limit of 0.08.
“This woman endangered all the drivers on the roadway, children and cars on the campus, and had planned to pick up a student and try to drive home drunk, once again endangering everyone,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. He credited school employees for recognizing the warning signs and notifying the school resource officer and deputies. “This is a great example of ‘See Something, Say Something’ in action and our school staff and deputies working together to keep our children safe.”
Beard was booked into the Flagler County Jail and later released after posting a $1,000 bond. A subsequent court date was not immediately available.
The post Mom allegedly arrives at elementary school with 0.298 BAC to pick up daughter, struggles to write child’s name: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.
