When police officers pulled Florida woman Cateria Thomas over, it was because she had an altered temporary tag on her license plate, and an unrestrained child in her lap. The scene they found in the car once Thomas was on the side of the road was rather worse.
Thomas was arrested on charges of DUI and four counts of child endangerment yesterday, after officers found her drunk behind the wheel, breastfeeding one child and with three others under the age of four in the backseat.
According to the police report, the exact age of the unrestrained child that Thomas was breastfeeding was two months.
Officers didn’t know how drunk Thomas was at first–only that she had read and watery eyes. As they began to talk to her, they noticed that she slurred her speech. Then, Thomas was unable to complete the field sobriety test.
Officers said that aside from to the children, there was an open, full gas can sitting on the passenger seat.
In addition to the DUI and child endangerment charges, Thomas has been charged with the reason the police pulled her over in the first place–unlawful alteration of her tag–and for driving on a suspended license.
The Florida Department of Children and Families is trying to find available relatives with whom the children can stay.
Thomas remains in jail.
(Photo credits: Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
