Ex-Miss USA was above legal alcohol limit, police say
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this March 19, 2011 photo, Miss USA Rima Fakih arrives to the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York. A police report says Fakih was driving with a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit when she was arrested for drunken driving in the Detroit enclave of Highland Park.
In this March 19, 2011 photo, Miss USA Rima Fakih arrives to the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York. A police report says Fakih was driving with a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit when she was arrested for drunken driving in the Detroit enclave of Highland Park.
DETROIT>> Former Miss USA Rima Fakih was driving with a half-empty bottle of champagne and a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit when she was arrested on a drunken driving charge in the Detroit enclave of Highland Park, according to a police report released Tuesday.
The report obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information Act request says the 26-year-old from Dearborn was pulled over early Saturday going 60 mph, weaving in heavy traffic and changing lanes with a turn signal.
A police officer whose name was given only as R. Kalis said the traffic stop happened about 2:15 a.m.
The report says she was driving a black 2011 Jaguar.
Kalis reported asking for the driver’s license said the "driver immediately identified herself as Miss USA and stated that she was driving a friend’s car."
Kalis said Fakih "appeared disoriented and had very slurred speech while fumbling for her purse." Kalis asked Fakih if she had been drinking, and she said, "No, not at all."
In the report, officers said they found an open and half-empty bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne on the floorboard behind the driver’s seat.
"I swear, I didn’t know it was open," Fakih told Kalis, according to the report.
Two breath tests showed a 0.19 percent and a 0.20 percent blood-alcohol level. Michigan law defines drunkenness at a level of 0.08 percent.
The report said Fakih was handcuffed and taken to a police station, where she was held until she was sober enough to be released.
Phone and email messages were left for Fakih and her lawyer on Tuesday.
The former Miss Michigan born in Lebanon won the Miss USA Pageant in 2010 and her reign ended earlier this year.
She won the Miss USA Pageant in May 2010. Her reign ended June 19, 2011. She was the first Miss Michigan to win the title since 1993 and the first Arab American winner ever.
While still holding the Miss USA title, Fakih became a contestant on the USA Network’s "WWE Tough Enough" show. The show started with 12 men and women competing to be professional wrestlers.
Fakih was voted off the show in the episode broadcast April 25.
