French National Arrested For DUI In Charlotte County
A French national living out of a boat and a converted ambulance was arrested for DUI in Charlotte County, Florida, after a witness reported reckless driving. Deputies conducted a traffic stop and observed the driver had watery, bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol.
The man told deputies his appearance and behavior were the result of an old dog bite that damaged a facial nerve and affected his balance, not intoxication. He struggled to complete several field sobriety tests administered at the scene.
Deputies placed him under arrest for driving under the influence. Breath samples taken during processing showed blood alcohol content readings of .258 and .261, more than three times Florida's legal limit of .08.
After being transported to the station, the man told deputies he was missing approximately $3,200 in cash that he said had been in a bag inside his vehicle at the time of the stop. A supervisor reviewed body-worn camera footage from the traffic stop with him to determine what property had been present in his bags during the arrest.
The footage review addressed the discrepancy between what the man reported missing and what was documented in the recordings from the night of his arrest. Body-worn camera footage of the stop and subsequent station interaction was obtained through a public records request.
The case was handled by Charlotte County law enforcement. The suspect faces DUI charges following breath test results that exceeded the legal limit by more than three times.
