Holmes Beach police arrested Bradenton resident Clay Henderson, 58, June 10 on a second-degree misdemeanor charge for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and narcotics.
Henderson also was charged with a third-degree misdemeanor for possession without a prescription of Aprazolam, a controlled substance.
Two officers around 12:20 a.m. heard what sounded like a motorist driving nearby with a flat tire, and saw a motorist park off the shoulder of Manatee Avenue.
The officers went to assist the motorist and found a man, later identified as Henderson with a flat front tire and the wheel’s rim touching the road.
An officer approached Henderson and, when the driver’s door opened, could see an open beer can in the door and a pub glass containing a gold liquid in the center console.
Henderson told police he’d had a beer before leaving work. He said the liquid in the glass was soda.
According to the report, Henderson was displaying signs of impairment and the officers asked him to perform field sobriety exercises.
Henderson agreed, but failed.
The officers arrested Henderson and searched him, finding two pills in his pants pocket. Police identified the pills as Alprazolam by using label codes.
The officer also found an open can of beer in the driver’s door and reported the liquid in the glass in the center console smelled like alcohol.
The officer transported Henderson to the Manatee County jail, where he registered breath samples with results of 0.045 and 0.042 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.
The state’s legal blood alcohol level limit for driving under the influence is 0.08.
HBPD issued Henderson three citations for driving under the influence, possessing an open alcohol container and driving a vehicle in an unsafe condition.
He was released from jail the same day after posting $1,620 bond.
If convicted, punishments for a third-degree felony include up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a fine of up to $5,000.
Punishments for a second-degree misdemeanor include up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, July 21, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.