Woman didn't smell like alcohol, but car smelled like hamburger
CRESTVIEW – A woman was arrested after parking her car toward the end of the Whataburger drive-through lane in Crestview and passing out over a half-eaten burger.
Machelle Coleman, 33, of Crestview, was found slumped over her steering wheel by a Crestview Police Department deputy. She had a half-eaten burger on her left leg and lettuce and French fries were strewn across her lap, according to the deputy.
After unsuccessfully attempting to awaken Coleman, the deputy called EMS. A few minutes later, Coleman woke up and began mumbling incoherently. Her eyes were watery and bloodshot. But the deputy did not smell alcohol in the car. Rather, the entire car smelled like a hamburger and fries, according to the incident report.
The deputy confirmed that Coleman did not have any medical issues and asked her if anyone had been in the car with her. “Ya, my man,” Coleman said and looked at the passenger seat. The passenger seat was empty when the deputy arrived on scene.
Coleman then began eating her burger, which she retrieved from her leg. She told the deputy that she had been drinking gin at Helen Back earlier that night with her “man.”
EMS arrived and evaluated Coleman. During this time, a witness to the incident told the Crestview Police Department deputy that Coleman had driven through the Whataburger drive-thru alone, moved her car to the end of the lane and passed out, according to the report.
After EMS had evaluated Coleman, the deputy noted that Coleman was swaying and had trouble maintaining her balance. He requested that she complete field sobriety exercises. Instead, the report said Coleman stated she had to urinate and walked toward the Whataburger restroom.
A female deputy escorted Coleman from the women’s restroom and she was asked again to complete field sobriety exercises.
Coleman told the deputy that those exercises are “just used to make people look guilty” and crossed her arms.
On route to the Okaloosa County Jail, Coleman began crying and arguing with the deputy about why she was arrested, the report said.
Upon arrival, Coleman refused to provide any breath samples, which were requested by officers during a 20-minute observation period.
Coleman was booked into jail and charged with DUI – fifth offense within ten years, the report said.
