A Lake Panasoffkee man was arrested for driving under the influence on Interestate 75.
A trooper was told to be on the lookout for the driver of a silver Ford Ranger, later identified as 20-year-old Ezra Bane Yoder, traveling southbound on I-75 at mile marker 326 around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol. Dispatch advised that the vehicle was unable to maintain a single lane, swerving from lane to land and going off the roadway.
Dispatch later advised that the vehicle had stopped on the outside grass shoulder at Mile Marker 320 on the interstate. The trooper made contact with the vehicle at 2:10 a.m. and turned on his emergency lights. He got out to speak with Yoder who was standing by the driver’s side door looking inside the vehicle, the report said.
While speaking to Yoder, the trooper noticed an odor of alcohol coming from his mouth. He also observed him to have red, bloodshot and watery eyes and slurred speech. He appeared to be confused and was not able to coherently answer any questions, the report said.
The trooper asked Yoder to walk toward his patrol car, but he was unsteady on his feet as he did so. After being read his rights, he advised that he was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. He had locked his keys inside the vehicle while it was still running, the report said.
Yoder also admitted to having a couple of Modelo beers and some shots of tequila. Based on this and indicators of impairment, the trooper decided to investigate for a DUI. He took Yoder to the Circle K, located at County Road 470, for field sobriety exercises, the report said.
Yoder’s performance during the exercises, including swaying and not following instructions, led the trooper to conclude he was DUI. He later provided breath samples of 0.199 and 0.192, the report said.
It was later discovered that Yoder had another Florida driver’s license with a different birthday in his wallet. The trooper processed his social security number and found he was born in 2005, meaning the second ID was fake, the report said.
Yoder was arrested on charges of DUI (under 21 years of age) and possession of counterfeit driver’s license or ID card. He was transported to Sumter County Jail and released after posting $3,500 bond.