Woman Arrested For DUI Thanks Police Officer 10 Years Later

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Sergeant Seth Weinstein of the Alexandria Police Department says it's unusual for someone to thank him for being arrested. But that's just what happened with a woman who got a DUI ten years ago.

In April 2007, Weinstein had responded to an early morning call about a dispute and spotted the woman trying to drive away with the headlights off. He stopped the car, found her intoxicated, and arrested and charged her with a DUI.

Weinstein told Patch the woman has since left him voicemails telling him about her progress and thanking him. But when she stopped into the police station on April 27, it was the only time they talked in person since the arrest. She brought him flowers and told him that she urges friends and colleagues to not drive under the influence.

"She told me she'd been going through a bad time in her life at that point, and the arrest was kind of a wake up call for her to change what she was doing," Weinstein said.

The 2007 arrest was the first time the woman had been charged with a DUI. On the lessons learned from the incident, Weinstein said, "The best thing for people is just plan ahead so you don't get yourself in this position."

Weinstein says the woman's gratitude "is the most I've gotten from any one individual by far."

Images via Alexandria Police Department