Full Breakdown
76-Year-Old Florida Man Arrested for DUI While Claiming He Drank Rum and Used Cocaine
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Arrest After Alleged Rum and Cocaine Use
Police in Polk County stopped Charles Ducking, 76, of Lake Wales, after a deputy observed him swerving on US Highway 27 in Waverly. The deputy noted the smell of alcohol, slurred speech and watery eyes. A subsequent vehicle search uncovered a small orange container of cocaine, and Ducking told officers he had “done a line” about ten minutes before the stop.
Prior Record and License Status
The deputy recognized Ducking from a DUI arrest in May, and the sheriff’s office confirmed that his license had been suspended following that incident. Ducking’s criminal history in Polk County includes nine arrests dating back to 2001, several of which were for DUI offenses. The current stop occurred roughly four months after the earlier DUI arrest.
Official Statements
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd praised the deputies’ proactive patrolling and emphasized public safety concerns.
Verbatim Quote
“He has tempted fate too many times, and he needs to make some serious changes in his life before it’s too late,” — County Sheriff Grady Judd
Legal Charges and Measured Impairment
Field-sobriety tests indicated impairment, and breathalyzer results recorded blood-alcohol concentrations of .094 and .095, both above Florida’s .08 legal limit. Ducking was arrested, booked into the Polk County Jail, and charged with a fourth-or-subsequent-offense DUI, possession of cocaine, driving with a suspended license, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released after posting bond conditioned on abstaining from alcohol.