Story Archive

Down Periscope

Whitney Beall, 23, decided to use the live-streaming Periscope app on her phone to allow viewers to join her as she went bar hopping in Lakeland, Fla. Later in the evening, she let viewers watch her drive home. “I’m driving home drunk, let’s see if I get a DUI!” she posted as she drove. Beall even commented on how popular her video was. “Fifty-seven people, oh I didn’t know I’d get this many people,” she said. “I am super drunk in the USA and the light is red.” Two of the viewers called the police, and Lakeland police officer Heather Harrison — who had the app on her phone — was able to track Beall down and arrest her. Police Sgt. Gary Gross considers the two callers and Harrison life savers for getting Beall off the road, but wonders why more of the 57 viewers didn’t intervene. “We’re thankful two people called. We wish more would have,” Gross said. “Those people watching did not want to call us. They wanted to see what was going to happen.” (MS/WFLA Tampa) ...After this brief commercial, she’ll be broadcasting live from jail.