Britney Spears exhibited “drastic mood swings,” spoke with a British accent and offered to cook lasagna for officers at her home, according to arrest documents obtained by the New York Times could see. Spears was pulled over in California last March and arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.
The 44-year-old admitted to drinking a mimosa hours before her arrest March 4 in Ventura County, but denied driving drunk. This emerges from the report from the California Highway Patrol. Loud Times Officers found unprescribed Adderall and an empty wine glass in Spears’ open BMW.
“I could probably drink four bottles of wine and still take care of you, I’m an angel,” Spears reportedly said when asked to rate her sobriety on a scale. Breath tests at the scene showed blood alcohol levels of 0.05 and 0.06 per mille – below the legal limit of 0.08 per mille.
Change of mood and British accent
“Her mood changed from confrontational and agitated to extroverted and cooperative,” the arresting officer’s report states. “She also seemed to speak with a British accent at times.”
In a CHP video of the arrest, Spears appeared to speak in a child-like voice and admitted to an officer that she was on her cell phone when she allegedly crossed into other lanes of traffic. She apologized for her behavior and invited the officers to her home.
“I’ll make you something to eat, lasagne or whatever you want,” she said loudly Times have said. “I have a pool.”
Lawyer hardly comments
Spears’ attorney Michael A. Goldstein declined to comment on the specific allegations contained in the newly released documents. He only told Rolling Stone that the pop star “intends to comply with the conditions imposed by the court as part of the agreement reached with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.”
Earlier this month, Goldstein negotiated a no-jail plea deal for Spears, reducing the DUI charge to a misdemeanor charge of driving while driving. “She’s doing well,” Goldstein told Rolling Stone at the time.
When asked if his client was happy with the outcome of the trial, he replied: “I don’t think anyone is happy about pleading guilty” – but under the circumstances it was a good result. “We are grateful that the District Attorney’s Office recognizes the positive steps Britney has taken to help herself, and we expect she will continue to do so,” Goldstein said.
Probation and conditions
Spears was sentenced to 12 months probation. The judge ordered that she must consent to searches by law enforcement while behind the wheel. The public prosecutor’s office had sought a broader requirement that would have allowed searches for drugs or alcohol in every case – Goldstein objected. The judge limited the requirement to situations where Spears is in her vehicle.
The judge also prohibited Spears from possessing or consuming narcotics without a valid prescription. He ordered that she continue her “mental health and addiction treatment” with weekly sessions with her psychologist and twice-monthly visits with her psychiatrist. She must also complete a three-month DUI course.
“A central part of today’s agreement was to ensure that Ms. Spears continues her mental health and addiction treatment program. We fully support that,” Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said after the hearing.
Limited privacy in the car
“Ms. Spears will have a limited expectation of privacy in her vehicle,” he said. “If she is stopped by an officer, she must agree to be tested for alcohol or drugs. Her vehicle may be searched for the presence of alcohol and drugs. And she may not drive with an intoxicant in her system.”
He also pointed out that Spears’ driving conviction – known in US law as “wet reckless” – is considered a predicate offense: If she is convicted of drunk driving again within the next ten years, it will count as a second DUI offense. For now, Spears is showing that she is taking responsibility, he said – that’s why his office gave her a second chance.
“If someone voluntarily decides to enter a rehabilitation facility before pleading guilty, it shows that they truly want to get well,” he said. “When they are better, our streets will be safer and our highways will not be congested with people who have alcohol or drugs in their system.”
Arrest based on information from witnesses
Police stopped Spears after receiving reports that a BMW was “driving uncontrollably at a high rate of speed,” a California Highway Patrol spokesman previously told Rolling Stone. Officers said Spears “showed signs of impairment and underwent a series of field sobriety tests,” after which she was arrested, taken to police headquarters and released several hours later.
“This was an unfortunate incident that has absolutely no excuse,” her manager said in a statement at the time. “Britney will take the right steps and follow the law – and hopefully this can be the first step towards a long overdue change in Britney’s life. Hopefully she gets the help and support she needs during this difficult time.”
