A Fourth of July night out in Florida ended with two school principals in custody, after police bodycam footage showed both women arrested on DUI charges in separate stops connected to the same vehicle.
Authorities released body camera video showing Jennifer Jimenez, 41, and Christina Alcalde, 45, being arrested in two different traffic stops, both involving the same white Jeep SUV.
The footage, released by the Clermont Police Department in Florida, captures officers pulling over the two principals during the early-morning encounters.
“Ms. Jennifer, you consumed any alcohol today cause I can smell it,” an officer can be heard asking in the video.
“Yes, I have,” Jimenez responded.
Christina Alcalde appears in Clermont Police Department body camera footage during a separate July 5 DUI-related traffic stop involving the same Jeep, according to police. (Clermont Police Department)
A Clermont Police Department probable-cause affidavit obtained by Fox News affiliate WOFL-TV said Jimenez was driving and Alcalde was in the passenger seat when an officer stopped the Jeep at about 2 a.m. on July 5 after observing it weaving in and out of its lane.
Police said the Jeep crossed into oncoming traffic lanes several times and went over a curb before the stop. The officer noted the smell of alcohol and wrote that Jimenez “would blink really slow and had very slow and delayed reactions.”
Jennifer Jimenez is shown in a Lake County Jail booking photo. Clermont police said Jimenez was arrested July 5 on DUI-related charges after officers stopped a Jeep she was driving. (Lake County Sheriff’s Office)
Jimenez was arrested on charges of DUI and refusal to submit to DUI testing.
Alcalde, who police said also appeared impaired during the first stop, was sent home in a rideshare while the Jeep was moved to a nearby parking lot instead of being towed.
But around 5 a.m., less than three hours later, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was notified that Alcalde may have been behind the wheel again.
According to the arrest report, the vehicle drifted in its lane and braked repeatedly before an intersection.
Jennifer Jimenez and Christina Alcalde are seen in Clermont Police Department body camera video during a July 5 DUI-related traffic stop in Clermont, Florida. (Clermont Police Department)
Bodycam video shows Alcalde telling the officer she was “way better” and was worried about Jimenez, who had been arrested earlier.
“I’m not meaning to do anything wrong. I’m way better,” Alcalde told the deputy.
“Well, look. I just talked to you,” he replied. “You were really drunk when I talked to you.”
“I know. I know. But I’m not now,” she said.
“It’s a couple hours later,” the deputy said.
“I understand. I’m really not,” Alcalde said. “I promise you I’m not.”
Christina Alcalde is shown in a Lake County Jail booking photo. Clermont police said Alcalde was arrested July 5 on DUI-related charges less than three hours after Jimenez, after officers found her driving the same Jeep. (Lake County Sheriff’s Office)
Alcalde was also arrested on DUI-related charges after field sobriety exercises, police said.
Both principals were booked into the Lake County Jail on DUI and refusal-to-submit charges, with bonds set at $2,000 each.
Alcalde reportedly identified her place of work as Pinecrest Lakes Academy, where she is listed as its principal, WESH 2 reports. Jimenez is principal at Pinecrest Academy Tavares, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
INC News has reached out to Pinecrest Lakes Academy and Pinecrest Academy Tavares for comment.
