Holmes Beach police arrested Benjamin Picard, 41, of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Nov. 2 on a second-degree misdemeanor for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.
An officer saw a motorist drop off passengers near Gulf Drive and Manatee Avenue around 11:42 p.m., make an abrupt U-turn and rapidly accelerate, according to a police report.
The officer stopped the motorist due to an “unsafe and irregular” driving pattern and observed that Picard’s speech was slurred, that he had “watery and glassy eyes” and that his breath smelled of alcohol.
Picard refused multiple times to perform field sobriety tests and he was arrested.
An unopened shot-size bottle of Fireball Whiskey was found in Picard’s pocket and open and unopened alcohol was found in his vehicle.
Picard was taken to the Manatee County jail. He was released Nov. 3 after posting $120 bond.
Punishment for a second-degree misdemeanor includes up to 60 days in jail, probation and a fine.
An arraignment will be at 8:55 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
— Ryan Paice