81-Year-Old Woman Faces Felony Charges After Traffic Stop

An 81-year-old woman was arrested by Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputies after a traffic stop in Palm Coast, Florida escalated from a speeding violation to a DUI investigation. The woman was initially pulled over for driving 54 mph in a 35 mph zone on what was described as a quiet evening.

During the stop, deputies observed empty beer cans in the back seat of the woman's vehicle and noted that her eyes appeared glossy. The woman, whose late husband had served 48 years in law enforcement, told deputies she needed to use the bathroom and that she lived just two streets away. She indicated she was willing to simply pay the speeding ticket.

According to bodycam footage, no preliminary breath test was administered and no field sobriety tests were attempted during the encounter. Despite one deputy eventually stating on camera that he was no longer asking her to perform DUI-related tests, the situation continued to escalate.

Three deputies ultimately conducted a forced extraction from the woman's vehicle. The extraction resulted in injuries to the woman, who was bleeding when removed from the car. She was subsequently transported to a hospital before being booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.

The 81-year-old widow now faces three felony charges stemming from the incident that began as a routine speeding stop.