Holmes Beach police arrested Duane Pipkin, 52, of Bradenton Aug. 20 on a third-degree felony charge for habitually driving with a revoked license.
An officer was driving of Gulf Drive around 2 a.m. when a motorist veered into his lane on an S-curve and almost struck his vehicle.
The officer conducted a traffic stop in the 600 block of Manatee Avenue and found the driver, Pipkin, was on probation and had a revoked license. He had been designated a habitual traffic offender.
Driving with a suspended license can result in a fine or misdemeanor, but becomes a third-degree felony if the person is a habitual traffic offender.
The officer arrested Pipkin and transported him to the Manatee County jail, where he remained in custody as of Aug. 24 under $1,500 bond.
If convicted, punishment for a third-degree felony charge includes up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a fine of up to $5,000.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton.
— Ryan Paice