A Cape Coral mother was arrested after police say she drove under the influence with her children in the car.
Officers responded to a call on Tuesday from a 13-year-old who reported their parent was driving while intoxicated.
The 13-year-old said they had been in a verbal altercation with their parent about the impaired driving, noting the vehicle was swerving all over the road.
The parent, identified as 36-year-old Tamica Sherri Perrin, had left the area with two younger children still in the vehicle.
While officers spoke with the teenager, a silver 2004 Ford Expedition matching the description was seen traveling on Country Club Boulevard. The caller identified the vehicle as being driven by Perrin. Officers conducted a traffic stop on Palm Tree Boulevard.
During the stop, officers observed signs of impairment and smelled alcohol on Perrin’s breath. Two children, both under 10, were in the backseat.
Perrin showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests and was arrested for driving under the influence. She refused to provide a breath sample. The children were released to a legal guardian.
Perrin was taken to Lee County Jail and charged with driving under the influence with minors and refusal to submit to DUI testing.
The Cape Coral Police Department reminds the public that driving under the influence, especially with children in the vehicle, is illegal and carries enhanced penalties in Florida.