A 76-year-old Florida man with a suspended license was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and cocaine possession after a traffic stop in which he allegedly admitted to drinking rum and using the drug shortly before getting behind the wheel, authorities said.
Charles Ducking of Lake Wales was pulled over after a Polk County sheriff's deputy observed him swerving along U.S. Highway 27 in Waverly, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The deputy detected the odor of alcohol and noticed that Ducking had slurred speech and watery eyes.
When asked for his driver's license, Ducking allegedly told the deputy it had been suspended. «Well, I can't show you my driver's license cuz it's suspended cuz DUI. And I have been drinking a little bit right now,» he said, according to the sheriff's office.
Officials said Ducking then showed the deputy a silver thermal cup containing a brown liquid. «This here is my rum I'm drinking,» he said, according to the sheriff's office.
A traffic deputy who responded to conduct a DUI investigation immediately recognized Ducking from a previous DUI arrest in May, the sheriff's office said. Deputies also found a small orange container containing cocaine during a search of Ducking's vehicle, which allegedly prompted Ducking to tell law enforcement he had «done a line» 10 minutes before he was pulled over.
During field sobriety tests, Ducking displayed several indicators of impairment, and breath tests registered blood alcohol concentration readings of.094 and.095, above Florida's.08 legal limit for drivers.
«While we appreciate Charles Ducking's cooperation during the traffic stop, the fact of the matter is, he is lucky he hasn't yet killed someone or himself while driving drunk and high on drugs,» Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. «He has tempted fate too many times, and he needs to make some serious changes in his life before it's too late. I am proud of my deputies for their proactive patrolling to find impaired drivers and get them off the road.»
Ducking was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail. He was charged with DUI — fourth or subsequent offense — possession of cocaine, driving with a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the sheriff's office, Ducking was previously arrested for DUI in May. He was released from jail days later after posting bond on the condition that he not possess or consume alcohol. Officials said Ducking has been arrested nine other times in Polk County dating back to 2001, including multiple DUI arrests.
The arrest highlights ongoing concerns about repeat impaired driving offenses in Florida, where law enforcement agencies have stepped up patrols targeting drivers under the influence. The Polk County Sheriff's Office has emphasized proactive traffic enforcement as a tool to prevent crashes and fatalities.