Hammered Woman Flees FHP, Ends badly for Her
On August 1, 2024, at approximately 12:39 PM, I was conducting routine patrol duties in Collier County, Florida, as a State Trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol. At that time, I received a radio dispatch from the FMRCC requesting assistance responding to a BOLO alert about a black Toyota Camry bearing a Florida license plate with the registration number BP31HQ. The vehicle in question was reported to be traveling westbound on I-75 (Alligator Alley) from mile marker 82 in a reckless manner. It was noted that four distinct calls had been received from concerned individuals who had observed the vehicle displaying an inability to maintain its designated lane.
I immediately traveled onto the roadway and began to overtake the reckless vehicle. I positioned my patrol vehicle behind Deputy C. Deutsch, and I turned on my emergency lights and sirens with the objective of stopping the black Toyota. However, the vehicle's driver refused to stop and instead accelerated and continued to flee from Deputy C. Deutsch and me. I promptly notified the FMRCC via radio of my engagement in pursuit of the said vehicle along with Dep. Deutsch.
Upon pursuing the vehicle westbound on I-75, I observed the vehicle accelerating in an attempt to evade capture. At approximately 12:42 PM, I maneuvered past Dep. Deutsch to become the primary pursuing vehicle. The black Toyota sustained a speed of approximately 73 miles per hour (mph) in a 70 mph zone. At approx 12:42 PM, I utilized my patrol vehicle's PA system to deliver a clear, lawful verbal command to the driver to stop fleeing. However, the driver refused to obey my lawful command.
At approx 12:43 PM, while traveling in the outside lane, I initiated a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) on the black Toyota Camry that was traveling in the inside lane. The PIT was successful, resulting in the vehicle rotating clockwise, colliding with the guardrail, and ultimately coming to a final rest facing northwest on the outside paved shoulder. Subsequently, I exited my patrol vehicle with my state agency-issued firearm drawn and proceeded to give clear verbal commands to the driver to exit the car. At approx 12:44 PM, a female driver, later identified by her Florida Driver's License as Abberdean Audrea Lewis, opened the driver's door and began to exit the vehicle. Trooper G. Teruz approached Abberdean and extracted her from the car, escorted her to the ground, and placed her under arrest for fleeing and eluding. After confirming no additional passengers were in the vehicle, I approached Abberdean. Upon my initial contact with her, I observed that her face was flushed, her eyes were bloodshot and watery, and she appeared very confused and dazed when speaking to me. I immediately detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from her. Inside her vehicle, I also detected a strong odor consistent with that of an alcoholic beverage.
At approximately 12:50 PM, I read and explained to Abberdean her Constitutional Rights in English from an agency-issued card. Abberdean agreed to speak with me and to answer questions.
While at the hospital, Abberdean presented with signs of disorientation and confusion. Her speech was slurred. She sometimes stopped in the middle of her sentence and forgot her train of thought. She presented with signs similar to someone coming off of anesthesia effects, where they seemed extremely groggy, slow, sluggish, lost, and disoriented. Therefore, this made it difficult for me to conduct a proper DUI investigation and ask questions.
During our conversation, she admitted she had consumed alcoholic beverages earlier and that she believed someone had placed "something" in her drink. She stated she is "not like this" usually and that she doesn't have these types of actions. She was apologetic and presented with mood swings. She would sometimes have a normal conversation and then begin crying. Furthermore, due to Abberdean being confined to a medical bed and sometimes going in and out of orientation, along with several indicators of a very high level of impairment presented, it became impractical/impossible for her to perform any SFSE safely.
While waiting for Abberdean's medical clearance, the hospital staff advised me that her BAC was .214 (2.5 times the legal limit). Furthermore, she presented with Cannabis (THC) in her system. The medical staff then advised us that Abberdean would be admitted for medical reasons and a necessary observation period.