Holmes Beach police arrested Bradenton resident Jerry Garner, 39, May 31 on a second-degree misdemeanor for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.
An officer was parked at the Kingfish Boat Ramp, 752 Manatee Ave., around 10:50 p.m. when a motorist pinged by the Holmes Beach Police Department’s license plate recognition system passed.
The officer followed the motorist and saw them swerve and drive over a double-yellow line, and conducted a traffic stop.
The officer spoke to the driver, Garner, whose license had been suspended. Garner also had “glassy” eyes and a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.”
The officer asked Garner if he drank any alcohol before driving and he said he had, so the officer asked him to perform field sobriety exercises.
Garner failed the sobriety exercises. He was arrested and transported to the HBPD, where he refused to provide a breath sample.
The officer issued Garner a citation for unknowingly driving with a suspended license and transported him to Bradenton, where he transferred custody to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
The MCSO deputy then transported Garner to the Manatee County jail, where Garner was released June 1 after posting $120 bond.
If convicted, punishment for a second-degree misdemeanor includes up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
An arraignment will be at 8:55 a.m. Thursday, July 6, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.