FCSO: ‘See Something, Say Something’ Leads to DUI Arrest of Woman Trying to Pick Up Child from School While Impaired

BUNNELL, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Palm Coast woman for DUI after staff at an elementary school reported she was attempting to pick up a child from the school while noticeably impaired. Deputies later determined the woman had driven to the school with a blood alcohol content over three times the legal limit.

On Oct. 15, a school resource deputy at Wadsworth Elementary School was notified by a staff member that a woman in the front lobby was attempting to pick up a child and appeared impaired. School staff reported the woman struggled getting in the door, had slurred speech and glassy eyes, and could not legibly write the name of the student she was trying to sign out.

Deputies made contact with the woman and identified her as Rebecca Beard, 28, of Palm Coast. While speaking with Beard, deputies smelled the odor of alcohol on her breath and noticed she had slurred speech, was visibly unsteady, and appeared very tired. Beard told deputies she had taken prescription medication the night before and was drowsy.

As Beard had driven to the school, deputies reviewed surveillance footage, which showed her driving in an erratic manner while entering the school’s parking lot.

Despite her signs of impairment, Beard was adamant she was able to drive, so deputies conducted a series of field sobriety exercises. During the exercises, deputies observed Beard repeatedly failed to follow instructions and struggled to maintain her balance. As a result, deputies determined she could not safely operate a vehicle.

Deputies arrested Beard for DUI. She was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where she provided breath tests. The first test indicated she had a BAC of 0.298 and the second indicated a BAC of 0.294.

Deputies later searched Beard’s vehicle and located a large empty bottle of vodka under the back passenger seat.

“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,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I am thankful that school staff was vigilant and alerted the SRD and deputies so they could intervene. 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.”

“We are proud to see our employees putting ‘See Something, Say Something’ to work to help keep our students and our campuses safe,” said Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore. “It takes everyone working together to safeguard our amazing students.”

Beard was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where she was later released on a $1,000 bond.

View body camera footage from Beard’s arrest.