An Ocala woman was arrested early Friday morning when a Marion County sheriff’s deputy saw her drive by him at a high rate of speed.
According to a sheriff’s office report, Kari Nicole Schuer, 21, was driving 50 mph in a 35-mph speed zone at 12:45 a.m. when she was pulled over in the 300 block of NW 3rd Avenue. As the deputy asked her for her driver’s license and registration, a strong odor of alcohol was present on Schuer’s breath, the report says, adding that the smell of marijuana also was coming from inside the vehicle. The deputy noticed that Schuer’s eyes were slightly red and watery.
After calling for backup because Schuer had a passenger with her, the deputy asked her if she’d been drinking. She said she had two vodka and cranberry drinks at 7 p.m. the night before. When asked about the smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, Schuer said she smoked a “bowl” about five hours earlier, the report says.
After failing five field sobriety tests, including being unable to recite the alphabet, Schuer was placed under arrest. She agreed to provide two breath samples that registered .201 and .203 blood alcohol content – more than twice the legal limit of .08 in Florida.
A subsequent search of Schuer’s vehicle revealed several marijuana roaches and two open bottles of Evan Williams Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, the report says. At Schuer’s request, her car was released to Brandon Brown.
Schuer was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of .15 or higher or with a person under 18. She was being held on $1,000 bond.