A Hernando woman was arrested for driving while on drugs with a 13-year-old juvenile in the passenger seat.
Police observed the driver of a red 2008 Kia, later identified as 57-year-old Rosalyn Florence Barber, traveling eastbound in the 3300 block of West Main Street around 10:54 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
The vehicle drove over two solid white lines, continued east and did not stop for the red light at the intersection of W Main St and County Road 468. After passing through, the vehicle kept going at a slow pace. An officer proceeded to conduct a traffic stop in the 2800 block, the report said.
Barber was then questioned and asked for her license. She had difficulty answering basic questions, and the officer noticed a juvenile in the passenger seat. He requested an additional officer on scene to help with his investigation, the report said.
The second officer arrived shortly after and immediately noticed Barber slumped over the wheel while speaking with the other officer. He instead spoke to the juvenile as she helped Barber find her license. The juvenile gave a false story about having Barber drive to meet with the juvenile’s father and a Marine. The juvenile also stated Barber was her neighbor, which was confirmed to be true, the report said.
Barber advised that the juvenile claimed to have been sent messages on her cell phone, and she needed Barber to drive her to meet with her father in Leesburg. She had taken her prescribed hydrocodone, which is an opioid, and sleeping pills prior to driving, the report said.
While being questioned, Barber fell asleep several times. She was also confused and mumbled, and her pupils were constricted. As a result, she was arrested for driving under the influence. She later admitted to taking hydrocodone and clozapine, an antipsychotic, and agreed to take a urine test, the report said.
The Pennsylvania native was ultimately charged with DUI (accompanied by person under 18). She was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $2,000 bond.
