A Summerfield teen was detained for driving under the influence after drifting into a deputy’s lane while holding a half-empty 12-pack of Twisted Tea.
A deputy was driving westbound in Ocklawaha when the 18-year-old driver of a white Chevrolet truck, Hunter Austin Murphy, swerved into his lane by several feet around 12:55 a.m. on Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. After being forced to the grassy shoulder, the deputy circled back to catch up with the truck.
He then pulled over at the intersection of Southeast 95th Street Road and 182nd Avenue Road. The deputy approached Murphy and detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the truck. Murphy stated that he was heading out to the woods to mudding, and that he swerved because he was trying to change the music on his radio, according to the report.
At that point, the deputy asked Murphy to participate in field sobriety tests. He agreed, but had difficulty maintaining his equilibrium. He nearly fell at one point and failed to follow instructions, according to the report.
The deputy explained that he knew Murphy had been drinking and wanted him to be honest. Murphy instead maintained that he had not drank anything that night. However, based on his performance, the deputy concluded that he was under the influence. Murphy later gave two breath samples measuring 0.203g/210L, according to the report.
A subsequent inventory of the truck revealed many empty cans of Twisted Tea and Michelob Ultra near the driver’s seat. A cold, half-empty can of Twisted Tea and a half-empty 12-pack of the same beverage were also found behind the driver’s seat, according to the report.
Murphy was arrested for DUI and brought into the Marion County Jail. He was released after paying a $1,000 bond.
Leave a Reply