A Bradenton man in a new pickup was arrested on a drunk driving charge after driving erratically in Fruitland Park.
An officer observed the driver of a blue 2025 Toyota pickup truck, later identified as 40-year-old Tomas Soto Lorenzo, weaving in and out of lanes on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 around 6:05 p.m. Wednesday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department.
As the officer continued southbound, he saw the truck traveling at a speed that was faster than the flow of traffic. The report noted it was rush hour, so all three lanes consistently had vehicles traveling within. He watched the truck switch from lane to lane, either not using the turn signal or using it as it was already changing lanes.
The truck would switch lanes when there was only a car length between the two vehicles originally in the lane, affecting the read vehicle. The officer continued to watch the truck as other drivers in vehicles beside him motioned to him, pointing at the truck as if to draw his attention to it. He maneuvered his patrol vehicle behind it and to the side of it around the intersection with Dixie Avenue, the report said.
The officer tried to make his presence known so Soto Lorenzo would notice law enforcement and stop driving erratically. However, this was not the case, as it seemed Soto Lorenzo was trying to avoid law enforcement by rapidly changing into a turn lane. The officer was able to get directly behind him regardless, the report said.
The light did not appear to be cycling for a U-turn, so the officer got beside the truck and told Soto Lorenzo not to drive erratically. At that point, he noticed Soto Lorenzo had bloodshot watery eyes. He did not understand what Soto Lorenzo responded with, the report said.
For the safety of motorists on the road, the officer conducted a traffic stop using emergency lights. He then approached the vehicle and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from within. Soto Lorenzo advised that he was going to a hotel “over there,” although he could not say where, the report said.
Soto Lorenzo instead pointed northbound, opposite the direction he was going. He stated he was coming from work. The officer noticed his speech was slow and slurred as he mumbled statements and questions to the officer. He was asked how much he had to drink but said “none,” the report said.
When the officer told Soto Lorenzo about his observations, he advised that he had one to two beers. The report noted he progressively added more beers to his original claim throughout the encounter. Based on all observations, the officer believed he was under the influence, the report said.
The officer asked Soto Lorenzo to participate in field sobriety exercises, to which he agreed. While waiting for more officers to arrive on scene, he kept asking the officer if he liked his truck. He followed up by telling him that he owned his company and could afford a new pickup truck, the report said.
The exercises were ultimately cut short out of concern for Soto Lorenzo’s safety. His performance, which included loss of balance and taking a karate pose, led the officer to conclude he was impaired. He later provided breath samples of 0.153g/210L and 0.162g/210L before requesting a lawyer, the report said.
Soto Lorenzo was arrested on charge of DUI and transported to Lake County Jail. The native of Mexico was released after posting $1,000 bond.