A Leesburg woman was arrested for driving under the influence when she was found slumped over behind the wheel after crashing into the side of a hair salon.
An officer observed the driver of a red Toyota, later identified as 33-year-old Amelia Claire Pellegrino, that collided with a wall of Michaels Couture Salon, located at 401 W, Main St., around 1:20 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
The vehicle sat still over the sidewalk and rested against the wall. The passenger side front fender and tire were damaged, as the vehicle appeared to hit the wall and drainpipe. The latter sustained minor damage, the report said.
Upon walking up to the vehicle, the officer saw Pellegrino slumped over at the wheel with the vehicle still in drive. He tried to open the driver’s side door so he could put the vehicle in park, but it was locked. He then knocked on the window to get her attention, the report said.
After a short time, Pellegrino lifted her head, saw the officer standing at the window and slowly began to slump over once more. A second attempt was successful, and she rolled down her window. He commanded her to put the vehicle in park, which she did, the report said.
Pellegrino appeared to be disoriented and had extremely dilated pupils during this process. While the officer spoke to her, she continued to pt her hand on the gear shifter. He told her multiple times to leave it in park, the report said.
Due to the vehicle’s placement as well as Pellegrino’s actions, EMS was asked to respond to medical evaluation. She ultimately refused treatment or transport. She was subsequently asked to participate in field sobriety exercises, to which she agreed. She swayed, lost her balance and used her arms for balance during the exercises, the report said.
After being read her rights, Pellegrino refused to speak with the officer. A K-9 unit responded to the scene to sniff around the outside of the vehicle and positively alerted to the odor of narcotics, the report said.
A search of her vehicle yielded a white Kendra Scott cloth pouch within a black bag on the front passenger seat. Pills without proper prescription identifiers or bottles were found inside. These included 15 amphetamine and 3 oxycodone pills, the report said.
Additionally, a search of Pellegrino revealed a mixture of loose pills in her left and right pant pockets. These included two amphetamine, two oxycodone, three trazodone and five diphenhydramine hydrochloride pills. None of these had prescription labels, the report said.
Pellegrino later provided breath samples that resulted in 0.000g/210L. She also gave a urine sample due to the suspicion of her being under the influence of drugs and not alcohol, the report said.
Pellegrino was arrested on charges of possession of controlled substance, possession of legend drug without prescription and DUI (accident/property damage or minor injury). She was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $5,000.