A customer was arrested after arguing over grits at the Denny’s restaurant in Leesburg.
Alison Coletti, 52, of Wildwood entered the restaurant early Saturday morning with a male companion, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
When told by a waitress that grits would not be available until later that day, the Georgia native who works as a cleaning lady became argumentative. Restaurant employees suspected Coletti was intoxicated. A call was placed to 911 as the restaurant staff watched her attempt to drive away in her truck. A Leesburg officer arrived before Coletti could exit the parking lot. When the officer made contact with Coletti, he had to tap the widow to get her attention as she was about to back her vehicle out of the parking space. She rolled the window down and demanded to know why law enforcement was present. She said she was “not doing anything wrong,” and simply wanted to eat some turkey and dressing.
She claimed she had not consumed any alcoholic beverages or drugs even though she reeked of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and could not follow simple instructions, the report said.
The officer requested that Coletti perform field sobriety exercises, but she refused. When the officer told her she was under arrest and put handcuffs on her, she offered to take part in the exercises. However, when the handcuffs were removed, Coletti threatened to fight the officer. She refused to submit to a breath test.
Coletti, who was behaving in a belligerent manner, eventually admitted she had been drinking at the Shamrock Lounge in Leesburg.
A records check revealed she has three prior driving under the influence convictions.
She was charged with a third degree felony of DUI fourth conviction and refusing to take the breath test. Bond was set at $11,000.
