Fort Pierce woman Deanna Lavern Singletary accused of drunk driving with four sleeping children

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A 30-year-old woman was arrested Saturday after police say she operated a vehicle while intoxicated and had four sleeping children with no seatbelts on as passengers, according to an arrest affidavit obtained Monday

Deanna Lavern Singletary, of the 6100 block of Arlington Way in Fort Pierce, was arrested on charges including neglect child without great harm, refuse to submit to DUI test and resist officer obstruct without violence.

A Fort Pierce police officer stopped a Kia that Singletary was driving about 12:28 a.m. Saturday after noticing the vehicle swerving and after seeing it go off the road. An officer had been following the gold vehicle from about the area of U.S. 1 and Georgia Avenue. The officer stopped the Kia just south of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1.

The officer reported Singletary's speech was slurred, and also noticed the smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from her. Police saw a cup with liquid that smelled like an alcoholic beverage.

Three sleeping children were in the back seat and a fourth sleeping child was in the front passenger seat. None of the kids wore seatbelts, and they looked to be 5 to 10 years old, according to the report.

Singletary appeared under the influence and didn't follow instructions. She walked in the street and apparently was using a cell phone.

Singletary's father came to get the children, while Singletary was taken to the St. Lucie County jail. She declined to take a breath test.

In addition to charges relating to resisting arrest and refusing to submit, Singletary was "charged with child endangerment as she failed to properly secure the children and then placing them in danger by operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated," an affidavit states.