The owner of a popular bar in Clermont has been arrested on a drunk driving charge.
An officer on patrol observed a pickup truck driving erratically in front of him while traveling eastbound on State Road 50 around 11:20 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department. The driver, 44-year-old Francisco “Frankie” Liz, sped up, pressed the brakes and sped up again, all while failing to stay in his lane.
This pattern continued for about two city blocks before the officer turned on his body camera to capture it. The footage showed the vehicle continuing to travel outside of its lane. Once the vehicle began to merge onto U.S. Hwy. 27, it almost swiped another car, the report said.
The officer turned on his emergency lights. He also paced the vehicle at 71 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone. The vehicle finally stopped at Brogden Road, the report said.
The officer then explained to Liz that he was “all over the road,” to which he stated, “I know, I was arguing with my staff.” He had been at Roasted Spirit, a bar and lounge that he owns in downtown Clermont. His breath smelled of alcohol during this conversation, and he admitted to drinking one or two beers, the report said.
After relaying Liz’s information to dispatch, the officer learned his license had been suspended for an unpaid traffic fine. He was subsequently asked to participate in field sobriety exercises, the report said.
Liz was unable to follow the officer’s finger during the first exercise, and the second had to be done twice. His lack of balance made the officer decide to move on to the third, during which he asked if he could just get someone to come pick him up, the report said.
His overall performance led the officer to conclude he was under the influence. He refused to provide a breath sample and asked for his lawyer, the report said.
Liz was charged with DUI, refusal, driving while license suspended (with knowledge) and refusal to sign citation that requires mandatory court hearing. The New York native was booked at the Lake County South Sub Station and released after posting $3,000 bond.