A Belleview woman was arrested for DUI after swerving all over the road with 12 empty beers in her truck bed.
A concerned citizen called dispatchers about a driver going “all over the road” in a red older model Mazda B2000 around 11:20 p.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement was told to be on the lookout for the reckless driver, later identified as 24-year-old Sharlette Rose Rivera, in Ocklawaha.
A deputy subsequently spotted the vehicle turning right onto East Hwy. 25 from Southeast Hwy. 25 and immediately turned around to track it. Rivera drove 10 mph below the speed limit and seemed to swerve back and forth in her lane. The vehicle touched the solid yellow line to the left roughly five times, the report said.
It also touched the solid white line to the right about five times before fully crossing it to the point the tires on that side were off the road. Due to this, the deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 14600 block of E Hwy. 25. He then spoke with Rivera, who looked very nervous, the report said.
She fumbled when searching for her driver’s license. Multiple times, she looked inside her bookbag on the passenger seat as well as between her seat and the center console. She eventually stated she would rather just give her name as she felt she was being rushed. She was told to take as much time as she needed but was still hesitant to find it, the report said.
The deputy could smell the very strong odor of alcohol coming from Rivera’s breath during this conversation. He also noticed her bloodshot watery eyes and slurred, mumbled speech. She ultimately admitted drinking four Corona beers and smoking marijuana earlier in the day, the report said.
Rivera agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises, during which she struggled to keep her balance and did not follow instructions. This led the deputy to conclude she was indeed under the influence. She later provided breath samples of 0.189 and 0.181. Additionally, an inventory of her vehicle yielded 12 empty bottles of Corona and an empty can of Nutrl seltzer in a white cooler in the truck bed, the report said.
The Pennsylvania native was arrested on charge of DUI and booked at the Marion County Jail. She was released after posting $1,000 bond.
