LAKELAND, FL (WFLA) – She turned the camera on herself, for the entire world to see. A Lakeland woman used the live-video broadcasting app Periscope to show off her heavy partying Friday night and then narrated her drunken drive home. The bizarre night landed 23-year-old Whitney Beall in jail.
Beal broadcasted multiple videos throughout the night, but they stopped once Lakeland Police pulled up behind her. Surprisingly, Beall did not hurt herself or anyone else through the drunken ride.
Lakeland Police Sgt. Gary Gross said Beall failed a sobriety test, and she was obviously drunk because of her slurred speech, glossy eyes and overall fogginess. But on her videos, with titles like “Drunk Girl Driving,” Beall made it clear she was drunk.
“I’m driving home drunk, let’s see if I get a DUI,” Beall said on a video.
Earlier in the night, she let her Periscope followers virtually join in the wild bar-hopping in downtown Lakeland.
“Let’s have fun! Let’s have fun!” she screamed to the camera.
After, they watched her get behind the wheel after admittedly drinking far too many.
“I am drunk on South Florida Avenue, because I’m a drunk person,” Beall said on Periscope.
She headed the opposite way of her home and got a few honks when she wouldn’t go at a green light.
“Driving drunk is not cool,” she said, as drivers honk behind her.
This all unfolded as dozens of people around the world witnessed what could turn tragic any second.
“Fifty-seven people, oh I didn’t know I’d get this many people,” Beall said, noticing how many viewers were watching her drive. “I am super drunk in the U.S.A., and the light is red,” she said.
Thankfully, two of those viewers dialed 9-1-1 and not only reported it, but explained the app that could help police track her down.
“Within minutes, we found her driving, flat front tire. She hit the curb again, and it was just obvious from that she was intoxicated,” Sgt. Gary Gross said. “She went through the tests. She failed and went to jail,” he added.
Monday Beall became camera shy when News Channel 8 gave her a chance to face the world again. She was surprised that people would now learn “Drunk Girl Driving” ended exactly how she feared.
“Let’s see if I can do it all the way home without a ticket,” she said.
Once police downloaded the app, they were able to start viewing Beall’s live broadcast themselves.
They noticed landmarks in the background of her video and then found her in North Lakeland. About 20 minutes after the 911 call, she was arrested. Outside her home Monday, Beall said what happened was a big mistake and she was learning her lesson. Her mother added that they are hiring an attorney.
Lee Cohen, a Lakeland attorney representing Beall, released the following statement about his client:
“She is a young professional with a bright future. When her court date is set, I will be entering a plea on her behalf of not guilty. I am not doing any interviews at this time, nor is my client or her mother. I’ll be investigating the case, and that starts now. I am waiting to see all the evidence, and I will take a look at it. I am also waiting for discovery from the State Attorney’s Office.”
