A Fruitland Park man pleaded not guilty this past week after a holiday season traffic stop for speeding which led to the discovery that he’d been drinking.
On the evening of Dec. 29, an officer observed the driver of a silver Chevrolet sedan, later identified as 40-year-old Nathan Grant Foster, traveling northbound on Citrus Boulevard approaching Picciola Road, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The officer was going about at the speed limit of 45 mph when the vehicle began gaining distance at a high rate of speed, clocking in at 57 mph.Â
The officer saw the vehicle make a right turn onto Picciola Road, going over a curb in the process. This caused the vehicle to exit the roadway and make a sudden jerking motion. The officer then turned on his emergency lights, and the vehicle pulled to the right in the area of Picciola Road and Ramsay Boulevard, the report said.Â
The officer spoke with Foster and observed watery eyes. He also noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath as he spoke. So, he asked Foster to step out of the vehicle to conduct field sobriety exercises, to which he agreed, the report said.Â
Due to several indicators of impaired motor functions, including unsteady steps, inability to follow instructions and mush mouth speech, the officer concluded that Foster was driving under the influence. He later refused to take a breath test to confirm or deny these suspicions, the report said.Â
Smith was ultimately arrested on charge of DUI and issued a citation for refusing to take a breath test. He was transported to the Lake County Jail and released the following day after posting $1,000 bond.Â
