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Crime & Safety

Texting Plus Drinking Equals Arrest For Norwalk Mother

Norwalk woman arrested with blood-alcohol level three times legal limit while driving with children.

A Norwalk woman driving back from a party in Bridgeport on Sunday night, rear-ended another car while texting, leading to her arrest for driving under the influence with her three children in the car.

Juana Figueroa, 39, of 261 Ely Street, was charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence, three counts of injury/risk/impairing morals, using/holding cellphone, and following too close.

According to the police report, officers responded to a two-car accident on West Avenue around 11 p.m. Sunday. Upon investigation, police said they discovered ten cans of Coors Light in Figueroa's 1996 GMC Jimmy SUV. Nine of the cans were empty and there was also a half-empty Coors Light can in the cup holder on the drivers side of the vehicle.

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Police officials stated there were five other people in the vehicle including Figueroa's three children ranging in ages from 11 to two-years old, who were in the back seat. According to the police report, the 2-year old daughter of Figueroa was sitting on the lap of an adult and was not secured with a seat belt.

Police administered a field sobriety test, which Figueroa failed, according to the police report. Relatives of the children were called to take custody of them while Figueroa was driven to police headquarters. While in the holding office, she allegedly told an official, "I'm not going to lie, I was texting" when she hit the car in front of her.

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According to police officials, Figueroa had a blood-alcohol level of .257 which is more than three times the legal limit. Bond was set for $60,000. Figueroa is due in court on December 29.

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