PALM COAST, Fla. – A 28-year-old Palm Coast woman was arrested for DUI after employees at Wadsworth Elementary School reported that she appeared intoxicated while attempting to pick up a child, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies identified the woman as Rebecca Beard, 28, whose breath tests later showed blood alcohol concentrations of 0.298 and 0.294, more than three times Florida’s legal driving limit of 0.08.

The incident occurred Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, after a school employee alerted the school resource deputy about a woman behaving unusually in the school’s front lobby.

School Staff Noticed Slurred Speech and Difficulty Walking

According to the sheriff’s office, Beard arrived at Wadsworth Elementary School and attempted to sign out a student.

School employees reported that she struggled to enter the building, had slurred speech and glassy eyes, and could not legibly write the student’s name on the sign-out paperwork.

Concerned that she was impaired, staff notified the school’s resource deputy.

When deputies approached Beard, they reported smelling alcohol on her breath. They also observed that she was unsteady on her feet, had slurred speech and appeared extremely tired.

Beard told deputies she had taken prescription medication the previous night and was feeling drowsy.

Because Beard had driven herself to the school, deputies reviewed surveillance footage from the campus.

The video showed Beard driving erratically as she entered the school parking lot, according to investigators.

Breath Tests Show BAC of 0.298 and 0.294

Despite the signs of impairment, Beard insisted she was capable of driving.

Deputies conducted field sobriety exercises to assess whether she could safely operate a vehicle.

During the exercises, Beard repeatedly struggled to follow instructions and maintain her balance, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies determined she was impaired and placed her under arrest for DUI.

After being transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, Beard submitted to two breath tests.

BREATH ALCOHOL TEST RESULTS

Florida legal limit

0.080

First test

0.298

Second test

0.294

Both readings were approximately 3.7 times the legal limit for driving in Florida.

Deputies later searched Beard’s vehicle and discovered a large empty vodka bottle underneath the rear passenger seat.

Sheriff Praises School Employees for Reporting Impaired Driver

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said Beard’s alleged actions placed motorists and children at risk.

“This woman endangered all the drivers on the roadway, children and cars on the campus, and had planned to pick up a student and try to drive home drunk, once again endangering everyone,” Staly said.

He credited school employees for recognizing the warning signs and contacting law enforcement before Beard could leave the campus with a child.

“I am thankful that school staff was vigilant and alerted the SRD and deputies so they could intervene,” Staly said. “This is a great example of ‘See Something, Say Something’ in action and our school staff and deputies working together to keep our children safe.”

Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore also praised employees for taking action.

“We are proud to see our employees putting ‘See Something, Say Something’ to work to help keep our students and our campuses safe,” Moore said. “It takes everyone working together to safeguard our amazing students.”

Woman Released on $1,000 Bond

Beard was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on a DUI charge.

She was later released after posting a $1,000 bond.