[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 05/13/21]
TAVARES, Florida — A drunk woman, who had six children with her, and was apparently upset about her bar tab at a local bowling alley was hauled off to jail after being accused of pushing a bartender multiple times, according to an arrest affidavit.
Shortly before 11:30 p.m. Friday, Tavares Police responded to Lakeside Lanes,1950 Classique Lane on a report of an “extremely intoxicated combative customer.” As TPD arrived, Daniele Theresa Polston, 38, who was attempting to leave in a Honda Pilot, began yelling at a TPD officer and accelerated towards the parking lot exit, the affidavit states.
An officer activated his lights and sirens and the Pilot came to a stop and a TPD officer removed Polston from the SUV and spoke with her as she had the “impurities of an alcoholic beverage coming from her breath and bloodshot glassy eyes.” Polston, of Eustis, attempted to get back into the Honda, which had six children in it.
Two TPD officers tried to stop her and she punched one officer in the nose and then punched the other officer in the head and scratched him, according to the affidavit. She was taken to the ground, handcuffed and placed in the back of a TPD patrol vehicle while officers conducted their investigation. A TPD sergeant responded to the scene and spoke with the children in the Honda.
“The children openly stated they knew Ms. Polston was intoxicated. One of the children explained Ms. Polston drinks frequently and was drinking prior to arriving at the bowling alley. The children openly stated they knew Ms. Polston was intoxicated when driving,” the affidavit states. Five of the children are related to Polston and the sixth child was a family friend, according to the affidavit. Their ages were not listed in the affidavit and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) was notified.
Police spoke with the bartender, who told them Polston had been drinking “all night’ and became upset when it was time to pay her bar tab. The bill was apparently higher than Polston expected and she began yelling and pushed items off the bar and told the bartender to “just run the card attached to the tab.” She continued to yell and vandalize the bar as she left the bowling alley. The bartender and the manager followed Polston out to get a vehicle description and Polston physically pushed the bartender several times, according to the affidavit. A third employee witnessed the incident and gave TPD a sworn statement.
Polston was cleared by Lake EMS and transported to the Lake County Jail. Upon arriving at LCJ, Polston continued to be combative and scratched a Lake County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy, drawing blood. TPD offfciers were unable to conduct field sobriety exercises due to her combativeness, the arresting officer stated in the affidavit. Polston was placed in a ‘wrap” by jail employees and unable to complete a breath test or sign her DUI citation.
Polston is facing numerous charges, including three counts of resisting arrest, battery and DUI. She was released from LCJ on $17,000 bond. In October, Polston was arrested for domestic battery and making a false report. On Monday, just three days after her arrest at the bowling alley, she pleaded no contest to the battery and filing a false report charges. She was sentenced to 12 months probation that includes 12 hours of anger management, an alcohol evaluation and recommended treatment.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
