A Fruitland Park man was arrested for DUI after he was stopped for swerving in his lane with open Heineken beers in his truck bed.
An officer spotted 44-year-old John Francis McAuliffe speeding in a silver Ford pickup truck on County Road 466A at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. Radar showed he was going 62mph in a 45-mph zone.
The officer got behind the truck, seeing it swerve within its lane and almost run off the road on the shoulder. It failed to maintain its lane several times as it continued. As a result, the officer initiated a traffic stop near the intersection with Poinsettia Avenue, the report said.
The truck slowed down but delayed pulling over for a short distance. McAuliffe ultimately stopped on Rose Avenue, and another officer responded to assist. Both officers approached him to ask for his information, the report said.
McAuliffe tried to find his registration and insurance due to only handing over his driver’s license and receipt of title. He was asked for his registration several times, but he never gave it to them, the report said.
The officers noticed he had a mush mouth and slurred his words as he spoke, the report said. The smell of alcohol came from the vehicle, as well. He denied having anything to drink, and when asked where he was coming from, he said, “It doesn’t really matter.”
They then saw unopened containers of Heineken beer on the passenger-side floorboard and several opened containers in the bed of the truck. When asked to step out of the vehicle, McAuliffe said, “I’d rather not.” He had to be asked several times to get out of the truck. He did eventually but was unsteady on his feet and used the truck for stability, the report said.
The officers next asked him to participate in field sobriety exercises, which he refused. He later provided a breath sample of 0.209g/210L and refused to answer questions, the report said.
McAuliffe was arrested for DUI and transported to Lake County Jail. He was released after posting $1,000 bond.