A drunk driving suspect who already has a suspended license was arrested after he was spotted swerving on a roadway in Sumter County.
Deputies were told to be on the lookout for a white Chevy Astro van traveling east on East County Road 48 in Bushnell at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. The driver, later identified as 57-year-old Odel Rey Ramos of Groveland, was unable to maintain speed or lane, and the van was reported as flashing its lights. The van turned onto County Road 563, and the complainant continued driving.
A deputy began traveling eastbound on East County Road 48 to look for the van. Near the intersection of Busted Oaks Way, he saw the van headed west with a line of cars behind it flashing their lights. As he passed, he saw the van had no rear lights on, the report said.
Due to this, the deputy turned on his emergency overhead lights for a traffic stop. He made a U-turn and caught up to see it consistently weaving within its lane. Rey Ramos was slow to react to the emergency lights and sirens, continuing to travel west at a slow speed. It eventually stopped on the grassy shoulder of East County Road 48, the report said.
Upon approaching the vehicle, the deputy explained the reason for the stop and started questioning Rey Ramos. He advised that he did not speak English, and another deputy who did was asked to respond to the scene. Meanwhile, the deputy noticed Rey Ramos had bloodshot, watery and glassy eyes, and his eyelids were droopy, the report said.
The deputy could also smell the overwhelming odor of cologne as if Rey Ramos had recently sprayed himself to mask the smell of something. He was able to ask Rey Ramos for his driver’s license to which he advised that he did not have one. He handed over his U.S. Citizenship card instead, the report said.
The deputy conducted a record check and learned he had a suspended license for DUI as of Dec. 23, 2024. He was then asked to get out of the van and walk to the front of the patrol vehicle. As he did so, he walked unsteadily and could not keep a straight path. The deputy stood downwind while he waited for backup and could smell the moderate odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage coming from his person, the report said.
He also saw Rey Ramos swaying as he stood. He asked if he had drunk any alcohol prior to driving, and he said he did not. More deputies got to the scene for translation and asked again if he had been drinking, the report said.
Rey Ramos stated he had only a small amount. He continued to sway from left to right as they spoke, and a deputy could smell the odor of alcohol on his breath. There was also a slight slur in his speech, the report said.
Through the translator, the deputy explained his belief that Rey Ramos was impaired. He asked him to participate in field sobriety exercises, and he agreed. His performance, which included using his arms for balance and swaying, led the deputy to conclude he was under the influence, the report said.
During an inventory of his vehicle, the deputy found an open 12-ounce can of Modelo beer in a Styrofoam container between the driver and passenger seats. It was about a third of the way empty. Rey Ramos later refused to submit a breath sample, the report said.
Further records showed he had a prior conviction for driving while license suspended on Feb. 20, 2024, in Miami-Dade County. He was subsequently arrested but refused to sign the citation, the report said.
Rey Ramos was charged with DUI, driving while license suspended (second or subsequent offense) and two counts of resist officer (refuse to accept/sign citation or post bond). The native of Mexico was transported to the Sumter County Detention Center to be held without bond.