PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould woman is facing her second DWI charge after a traffic stop early Saturday reportedly revealed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .179, more than twice the legal limit in Arkansas.
Police say they arrested Kaylee Harrell around 1:44 a.m. on August 15 on three misdemeanor charges: suspicion of DWI, second offense; violating an ignition interlock restriction; and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
The arrest followed a traffic stop initiated when officers observed that Harrell’s vehicle did not have a functioning license plate light, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Officers reported that Harrell appeared to have bloodshot, watery eyes and detected a strong smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle. When asked for her driver’s license, Harrell allegedly handed officers an out-of-state identification card instead. She reportedly acknowledged that the vehicle she was driving was not equipped with a required ignition interlock device, a restriction imposed following a prior DWI conviction.
When questioned further, Harrell admitted to consuming two beers at a bar earlier that evening, authorities said.
Police conducted field sobriety tests and noted several indicators of impairment, including six out of six possible signs during the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, three out of eight during the walk-and-turn test, and two out of four during the one-leg stand. A subsequent breathalyzer test reportedly registered her BAC at .179.
Law enforcement confirmed that Harrell was under an ignition interlock restriction and discovered a prior DWI conviction, leading to the second-offense allegation.
District Judge Curtis Hitt set Harrell’s bond at $10,000 cash only. As part of her release conditions, the court ordered her to abstain from alcohol and drug misuse and prohibited her from operating a motor vehicle.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.