A Villager was arrested on a drunk driving charge after her Lincoln hit a golf cart at City Fire in The Villages.
Rebecca Jane Phillips, 67, of the Village of St. Charles, was driving a silver Lincoln MKZ shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday when she was attempting to park and struck a golf cart near City Fire at Lake Sumter Landing, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
A witness saw the Texas native strike the unoccupied golf cart and park her vehicle between two separate parking spaces. Phillips flashed the “peace sign” before getting out of her vehicle, then stumbling and walking toward an outdoor service bar. She ordered a drink and walked away. She tried to purchase a drink at a different outdoor service bar, but was denied service.
The witness contacted law enforcement and kept an eye on Phillips.
A deputy arrived on the scene and when he spoke to Phillips, she appeared to have bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. The odor of alcohol was detected on her breath.
She initially denied she had been driving and identified a fictional man friend as the driver of the Lincoln. The deputy pointed out that the Lincoln had damage, as if it had hit a golf cart. Phillips could not identify the man she had claimed was driving and was found to be in possession of the Lincoln’s key fob.
The deputy informed Phillips that he was “changing hats” and would be investigating a case of driving under the influence.
“You’re just an idiot,” Phillips told the deputy.
She refused to participate in field sobriety exercises and would not provide a breath sample.
She was also found to be in possession of four white pills identified as Clonazepam.
Phillips was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, hit and run and drug possession. She was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center on $5,500 bond.