A Hialeah man was arrested for driving under the influence after pulling into Wawa with a flat tire and beer in the backseat of his vehicle.
An officer was finishing up a traffic stop at Lake Griffin Drive when 34-year-old Kevin Evelio Quintero passed by in a dark Toyota passenger car around 10:10 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department.
The vehicle traveled with a flat tire, which the officer could hear, and its hazard lights flashing. Due to this, he conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle as it pulled into Wawa, located at 116 S U.S. Hwy. 27/441. Quintero opened his door and walked toward the back of his vehicle as soon as he pulled over, the report said.
The officer commanded him to get back into the vehicle several times, but he did not comply. He put his keys on the trunk lid instead. He then handed over his driver’s license, the report said.
Quintero appeared to have difficulty understanding simple commands, such as getting back into the vehicle. The officer noticed his eyes were bloodshot and glassy at that point. He also leaned against the rear of the vehicle for most of the encounter and swayed even with the support. A later search of his vehicle yielded Corona beer in the backseat, the report said.
When asked to participate in field sobriety exercises, he immediately became defensive and agitated. He stated he was already out of the vehicle and not driving, so he did not have to do the exercises. The officer decided to place him under arrest for suspicion of DUI, the report said.
But when placed in handcuffs, Quintero pulled his arms to his chest and would not put them behind his back. He continued resisting until the officer drew his taser and threatened to use it. He was then handcuffed, but he continued to give slight resistance, the report said.
The officer transported Quinteto to Lake County Jail’s breath test room. He was uncooperative and stated he would not refuse until he spoke to a judge. His behavior was determined to be a refusal, the report said.
Quintero was charged with DUI, resisting without violence, refusal to sign criminal citation and refusal to submit DUI testing. The native of Cuba was booked at the jail and released after posting $4,000 bond.