North Fort Myers woman charged with DUI with children in the car
A call initiated by a young teen who said an adult was driving while intoxicated with children in the car resulted in an arrest Tuesday.
Tamica Sherri Perrin, 36, of North Fort Myers, was charged with driving under the influence with a person under 18 years of age in the vehicle and DUI refusal to submit to DUI testing.
According to a news release issued Wednesday by the Cape Coral Police Department:
The young caller told an emergency dispatcher that an adult was driving while intoxicated, had young children inside the vehicle, and “was swerving all over the road.” The caller said they had been in the vehicle and was dropped off after a “verbal altercation” with the driver concerning the driver’s alleged impairment.
Officers responded to the caller’s location on Country Club Boulevard at approximately 8:14 p.m. The caller told officers that the driver had been drinking earlier in the evening and was impaired.
While speaking with the caller, officers saw a silver 2004 Ford Expedition matching the description provided traveling southbound on Country Club Boulevard. When the caller identified the driver, an officer got into the patrol car to conduct a traffic stop in the 4600 block of Palm Tree Boulevard.
“During the encounter, officers observed multiple indicators consistent with impairment, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her breath. Two children, later determined to be under 10 years old, were observed in the backseat of the vehicle,” the release states.
“Officers conducted standardized field sobriety evaluations with Perrin, during which she showed numerous signs of impairment. Based on the totality of observations, statements, and performance on the evaluations, Perrin was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. Perrin was asked to provide a sample of her breath and refused,” the release states.
The children were released to the custody of a legal guardian.
Perrin was released on bond from the Lee County Jail early Wednesday afternoon.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com