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Sandstone Woman Charged With 10th OWI

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 53-year-old woman has been charged for the 10th time for operating while intoxicated.

Cynthia Mae Bearhart, of Sandstone, Minn., was arrested last week after a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper pulled her over on suspicion of drinking and driving. The trooper said upon pulling Bearhart over, he saw Bearhart's 23-year-old daughter passed out in the passenger seat and numerous beer cans on the floor of the vehicle. He said Bearhart also had an open can of Bud Light in the cup holder.

During a field sobriety test, Bearhart allegedly told the trooper that she couldn't walk a straight line because she has "equilibrium" and "a bad ear infection."

After being asked to recite the alphabet, Bearhart stopped after the letter "p" and said, "That's as far as I got in school." When prompted again, she was able to continue to the letter "z."

A preliminary breath test showed Bearhart had a .28 BAC.

In addition to being charged with her 10th OWI, she's also charged with operating without a valid driver's license, possessing an open intoxicants in a motor vehicle.

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