Correctional Officer’s Daughter Arrested for DUI at Over DOUBLE the Limit

Around 4:34 AM on April 28, 2024, Deputy Patrick Blackwood with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office observed the driver of a 2011 Toyota Tacoma swerving across lanes on Highway 87 northbound near the Yellow River Bridge. He activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop in Highway 87 near Nichols Lake Road. He exited the vehicle and made contact with the driver of the truck, who was identified as 21-year-old Lacey Edwards.

As he was speaking with Lacey, he detected the odor of alcohol and observed indicators of impairment. Her passenger seemed heavily intoxicated and it was apparent that she had vomited. Lacey initially denied having anything to drink, but would later admit to consuming alcohol in Panama City. She told the Deputy that she was headed back home to Bonifay, which was a long drive from Milton. He waited until Deputy Carey could arrive on scene and assist before beginning his DUI investigation. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Lacey was asked to perform field sobriety exercises.

Deputy Blackwood started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Deputy Blackwood observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Lacey did not touch heel-to-toe on each step and took 27 steps before turning. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Lacey failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and the test was terminated early due to safety concerns.

Based on her erratic driving, her indicators of impairment, and her inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises, Deputy Blackwood told Lacey that she was being placed under arrest for DUI. Lacey told him that her mother worked as a Correctional Officer at the Holmes County Jail, and that she was a Lieutenant.

Lacey was transported to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office for further processing. At the jail, she agreed to submit breath samples. Her breath samples indicated BAC levels of .215 g/210ml and .218 g/210ml, which were more than double the legal limit of 0.08%. She was charged with a DUI (316.193(1)(B)) and driving in an improper lane of traffic (316.089(1)). Lacey was eventually released pending her court appearance on a $500 bond.

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