A Tavares man was arrested on his fourth DUI charge after backing his truck off a retention wall, just inches from the water.
A deputy responded to 30849 Cove Rd. in Leesburg regarding an anonymous caller who stated a black Ford F250 just backed into the canal, and they believed the driver, later identified as 48-year-old Robert William Curry, was intoxicated around 8:53 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival, the deputy observed a Ford F250 that had backed off the road through the retention gate and had its back tires off the retention wall a few inches from the water. He saw no driver or passengers within the truck. He began to question bystanders, but none were able to advise where the driver was, the report said.
The deputy then spotted Curry walking toward the vehicle where he and other deputies stood. He approached Curry and asked him who was driving the vehicle, and he advised that he was, the report said.
Curry explained that he took too wide of a turn and did not notice the body of water behind him when he was backing up. He was in a hurry because of his granddaughter’s involvement in a golf cart accident. He needed to get to the hospital, the report said.
The deputy next asked Curry if he remembered that the deputy was on scene when his granddaughter was with EMS, to which Curry did not answer. He was also asked if he had been drinking alcohol, and he stated he was. He admitted that he did not think he was ok to drive when questioned, the report said.
Curry then agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises. While speaking with him, the deputy smelled the odor of alcohol on his breath. He had glassy eyes and a slightly flushed face. He was also slow to answer questions, had slurred speech and was thick-tongued, the report said.
While conducting the exercises, the deputy had to repeat instructions to Curry several times. He was also unsteady and swayed. These factors led the deputy to conclude that Curry was under the influence, the report said.
Curry later provided a breath sample that resulted in 0.129 and 0.122. Additionally, dispatch ran a criminal history check that revealed three prior DUI convictions, the report said.
The Michigan native was arrested on charge of DUI (forth or subsequent offense). He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $10,000 bond.