Woman accused of eighth DUI

A 46-year-old Belgrade-area woman was jailed on suspicion of driving while intoxicated for the eighth time.

The woman, Amber Michele Coleman, was arrested and accused of felony DUI following an investigation that began about 12:29 a.m. March 31. At that time, a Gallatin County sheriff’s deputy on patrol reportedly saw a white Audi Q5 Premium Plus stopped near Tennessee Way and Whiskey Way in Bozeman.

The deputy made contact with the sole occupant of the Audi, a female driver, and reported that he smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. The driver had slurred speech, according to an affidavit the deputy filed in Gallatin County Justice Court.

“She stated she drove the vehicle to the location and planned to drive to her next destination once she fixed her radio,” reads the affidavit. “Outside the vehicle the defendant had the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her. The defendant said she drank one alcoholic beverage.”

The driver was identified as Coleman, who performed unsatisfactorily on a field sobriety test, the affidavit alleges. Her blood was drawn at Bozeman Health pursuant to a search warrant, and she was arrested.

Coleman, who lives just west of Belgrade, has seven DUI convictions; two in 2019, two in 2005, and one each in 1996, 1998, and 2000, according to the affidavit and a notice to appear in court. The deputy pursued a DUI charge enhanced to a felony due to the number of Coleman’s DUI convictions. He also advised that she be prosecuted on a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully driving without an ignition interlock device.