A boater who maneuvered into the path of law enforcement in pursuit of another vessel landed in jail for boating while under the influence.
Gary Warner, 55, of Bradenton, was formally charged July 7 with vessel DUI by the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney.
With its lights and sirens on, a marine unit of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office — with a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain — was attempting to stop a vessel June 28 offshore near the 2200 block of Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach.
That was when Warner’s boat motored into the way of police.
The marine unit, forced to alter its course from stopping the first vessel, detained Warner’s vessel and requested safety items.
After noticing Warner’s slurred speech and an odor of an alcoholic beverage, he was requested to perform field sobriety tests on the MCSO boat and on land.
Warner performed breath tests that measured 0.136 and 0.132 blood alcohol content. The legal limit is 0.08.
He was transported to the Manatee County jail, posted a $500 bond and was released.
His arraignment is set for July 30 at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.