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“Wasn’t My Thing”: Missing Breathalyzer in Louisville DUI Case Leads to Dismissal and Family Lawsuit

What happened: Cuqita Boyd was charged with DUI after a minor January 2022 crash in Louisville, despite repeatedly requesting a portable breathalyzer that officers did not provide.

At the jail a breath test read 0.0 and bloodwork found no alcohol. Bodycam footage shows the officer admitting no smell of alcohol and no slurred speech, yet cited slow compliance.

Charges were dismissed after 14 months; Boyd's family now says the drawn-out legal fight contributed to her May 2025 death and has filed suit.

10:33 PM, 11/27/2025Society
“Wasn’t My Thing”: Missing Breathalyzer in Louisville DUI Case Leads to Dismissal and Family Lawsuit

In Louisville, Kentucky, Cuqita Boyd was charged with driving under the influence after a minor crash in January 2022, despite repeatedly asking the arresting officer for a portable breathalyzer that was never produced.

During a later deposition, the officer reportedly said using breathalyzers "wasn't my thing." At the jail, Boyd submitted to a breath test that registered 0.0, and a subsequent blood draw detected no alcohol in her system.

Body camera and testimony

Body-worn camera footage shows the officer acknowledging she did not smell alcohol and that Boyd was not slurring her words, while contemporaneously asserting that Boyd had been too slow to follow commands. Those competing observations formed part of the record as Boyd contested the charges.

Legal aftermath and lawsuit

Boyd spent about 14 months fighting the DUI charge before it was dismissed. Her family has since filed a civil lawsuit, alleging the prolonged legal ordeal contributed to Boyd's death in May 2025 from complications related to high blood pressure. The family’s suit seeks accountability for the handling of the initial traffic stop and the impact of the ensuing legal battle.

Note: The lawsuit contends the length and stress of the prosecution played a role in Boyd's health decline; allegations in a complaint are claims that will be tested in court.

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