A woman’s scream for help led Holmes Beach police to 28th and 31st streets and the beach and a Bradenton’s woman’s arrest for impaired driving.
Three officers responded at 1:26 a.m. March 31 and saw two women run from the beach, jump into a vehicle and travel south on Gulf Drive without turning on the headlights.
Sgt. Brian Copeman reported seeing a large knife on the floor in the back seat of the vehicle as he approached, noted signs of the driver’s impairment and turned called for Officer Alan Bores to assist in an investigation.
Bores conducted an interview, field-sobriety tests and arrested the driver, Courtnie Crider, 21, of Bradenton, after she told him she had consumed a rum drink earlier.
Noting she had trouble balancing, the officer took Crider to the HBPD station, where she provided breath samples measuring 0.152 and 0.154 blood concentration.
The blood-alcohol limit is 0.08.
Her passenger told Copeman she and Crider had two rum drinks in the hour before the police stop. Their vehicle was towed.
Detective Sgt. Brian Hall said the knife in the backseat was likely left in the vehicle and officers made no connection made between the woman’s scream and the women running off the beach.
Crider was charged with driving under the influence and ticketed for driving without headlights.
She was released after posting a $500 bond.
Crider’s arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.