Holmes Beach police arrested Haines City resident Rosely Padilla-Najera, 33, Oct. 1 on a third-degree felony for alleged possession of cocaine and a second-degree misdemeanor for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.
Padilla-Najera also faces a charge of another third-degree felony for allegedly bringing contraband into a detention facility, as well as two additional second-degree misdemeanors for allegedly driving without a license and driving while license suspended.
An officer saw a motorist sit at a flashing red stoplight at the intersection of Gulf Drive and Manatee Avenue for about a minute around 3 a.m. despite there being no other traffic.
The motorist then drove into Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, ignoring signs stating the park is closed at night, according to a Holmes Beach police report.
According to the HBPD report, the officer activated emergency lights to get the motorist’s attention and remind them about park hours but the driver did not look at him when she passed.
The motorist approached the intersection again, entered the left turn lane but proceeded straight, then activated the vehicle’s right turn signal but did not turn until East Bay Drive.
The officer conducted a traffic stop and spoke to the driver, Padilla-Najera, reporting she had slurred and “confusing” speech, “watery” eyes and breath that smelled of alcohol.
The officer also saw two open cases of beer and several open beer bottles on the back floorboard.
He asked Padilla-Najera for her driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance. She said she did not have a license.
When her passenger —also allegedly intoxicated — opened the glove box, a glass pipe fell out.
When the officer went around the vehicle to investigate, the passenger tried to conceal the pipe with his foot, then threw it under his seat. The officer detained the passenger and later arrested him for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Backup arrived and observed the man while the officer continued his investigation.
The officer asked Padilla-Najera to perform field sobriety exercises and she twice refused and she was arrested for suspicion of DUI.
The officer searched the vehicle and found a plastic container of almost 28 grams of marijuana. Neither of the vehicle’s occupants claimed the substance.
The officer transported Padilla-Najera to the Holmes Beach Police Department, where she registered breath samples with results of 0.145 and 0.142 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.
The state’s legal blood alcohol level limit for driving under the influence is 0.08.
The officer transported Padilla-Najera to the Manatee County jail, where Manatee County sheriff’s deputies found a small plastic bag containing a white powdery substance in her phone case.
The substance field-tested positive for cocaine.
Padilla-Najera was released Oct. 1 after posting $3,360 bond.
If convicted, punishment for a third-degree felony includes up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a fine of up to $5,000.
Punishment for a second-degree misdemeanor includes up to 60 days in jail, six months of probation and a fine of up to $500.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.