Stefania's Arrest

Name: Stefania Florez
Arresting Agency: JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Charges

• #1 Driving Under the Influence

Police Report:
On 4-24-2022 at approximately 2230 hrs, while running laser on westbound traffic while parked in a parking lot, I observed a vehicle eastbound over an intracoastal waterway. The vehicle was driving without taillamps at night. I pulled onto the roadway and caught up to the vehicle, which continued to operate without taillamps. I ran the tag and learned that the vehicle registration was expired and the registered owner had multiple suspensions/cancellations on their driver license.

I conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the suspect/driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle. I had her turn the vehicle off, which she did with the transmission still in "drive." She confirmed she is the vehicle owner. While speaking with her, I noted her pupils were dilated, despite my use of a flashlight to illuminate the vehicle cabin. Her eyes were watery and bloodshot. Her eyelids were droopy. Her speech was slurred. When she began to retrieve her license at my request, her movements were lethargic. She provided me with a FL ID card, which she believed to be a hardship license. However, she stated she was coming from her house to visit a friend who is "like a brother" to her, which would not be a valid use of a business purposes only license, even if she actually had one.

I had the suspect exit the vehicle. Her movements continued to be lethargic. I smelled a moderate odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath. I explained I was conducting a criminal DUI investigation. I read her Miranda Rights (via card). She stated she understood and agreed to answer questions. She relayed no medical issues to me that would be relevant to my DUI investigation. She denied consuming any other intoxicants.

She agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises. During my investigation, the suspect had much difficulty following instructions, including very simple ones such as "don't move your head" during the eye exercise. She demonstrated numerous validated clues, as well as cues on each of the exercises I conducted. She stated it would be safe to drive with a child in her current condition. She rated herself a "3" on a 0-10 scale, where 0=completely sober and 10=too drunk to stand. She said the alcohol was making her feel "sleepier than normal."

I placed the suspect under arrest for DUI. As I attempted to place her in my police vehicle in preparation for transport, the suspect said she takes medication for depression and would "lose her mind" if she had to go back to jail. I pointed out that mixing anti-depressants and alcohol was a poor choice, and she responded that she hadn't taken them today, only right before going to bed. I eventually talked her into getting in the back seat.

I seized the suspect's vehicle under the provisions of the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act because her license is currently suspended for DUI, and she is now arrested for DUI again.

I seized the suspect's tag per HSMV instructions. Though the tag expired on 11-9-2021, it had a validation sticker attached to it that expires on 9-2-2022, which belongs on a different vehicle.

Records indicate the suspect had a DWLS conviction on 10-25-21.
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Here is the updated version with the date and time kept intact:

On 04/25/2022, at approximately 0049 hours, Officer [name redacted] requested a breath sample from the above subject. Once the subject was completed with the intake process, I escorted the subject to the breath test room.

Once the subject and I were seated in the breath test room, I introduced myself to the subject and advised the subject of what she was arrested for. I then requested the subject to submit to a lawful test of her breath for the purpose of determining its alcohol content. The subject then stated, "No, I was told not to blow." I then read implied consent to the subject from [form reference redacted] and asked the subject if she understood implied consent, and the subject stated "Yes." I then asked the subject if, with implied consent in mind, she was willing to submit to a lawful test of her breath, and the subject stated "No."

Post-Miranda rights, the subject agreed to answer questions. I then explained the DUI citations to the subject and asked the subject if she had any questions, and the subject stated "No, sir." I then escorted the subject to property holding, where she can change into a jail-issued uniform and continue the booking process.

The subject had a moderate odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from her breath. The subject's face appeared to be normal. The subject's eyes appeared to be watery/glassy and bloodshot/red. The subject's speech was in a low tone and soft-spoken. The subject displayed a polite and cooperative attitude.



Court: 

VERDICT- FOUND GUILTY BY JURY