Woman who allegedly burned down 'The Senator' arrested for DUI

Sara Barnes arrested in Maitland

MAITLAND, Fla. – Maitland police said they arrested Sara Barnes, the woman who was accused of burning down the 3,500 year old Cypress Tree, for DUI.

Maitland police said Barnes was seen driving erratically around Horatio Avenue and Minnehaha Circle around 5 p.m. Friday evening.

Police said they did a traffic stop and Barnes provided her driver's license, but could not find any proof of insurance.

Barnes gave the officer a real estate brochure, according to the arrest affidavit.

Police said, while speaking to Barnes, they could smell a strong odor of alcohol and she did not seem to have a concept of time while speaking with slurred speech.

Police said Barnes called her mother and informed her she may be going to jail again.

Police made her hang up her phone and gave her a field sobriety testm which she failed, according to the affidavit.

Police said she admitted to having 3 shots of vodka and she was placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI

Police said on the way to the Orange County DUI center, she laid down in the back seat and began to cry because she had done jail time for burning down the 'Senator', but she actually loved trees.

Barnes was arrested in February 2012, accused of burning down a 3,500 tree in Seminole County, considered to be the oldest tree in Florida, while smoking meth.

Stay with Local 6 for the latest on this story.


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