A man with a history of drunk driving arrests was arrested early Sunday on a charge of driving under the influence.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies responded to the 3800 block of SE 58th Ave. to assist with a traffic stop, according to an arrest report. Upon arrival, the deputy already at the scene advised that while traveling eastbound on SE 38th St. he observed a silver Toyota stopped at a stop sign, but its back bumper was in front of the white stop bar and the front bumper was in the right lane of SE 58th Ave., the report stated. The deputy then conducted a traffic stop on the Toyota at the intersection of SE 58h Ave. and Almond Drive Run.
Upon making contact with the driver, 45-year-old Shawn Derby Simon of Ocala, the deputy immediately detected an odor of alcoholic beverages coming from within the vehicle. He then observed Simon’s eyes to be extremely bloodshot and watery, and his speech was slurred. Assisting deputies made contact with Simon and asked how much he had to drink. Simon responded, “A few.” Simon then told deputies he “did not need a DUI.”
Simon agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises, but was unsteady on his feet as he exited the vehicle.
He was then placed under arrest and transported to Marion County Jail.
At the jail, Simon refused to provide breath samples. A computer history check turned up a prior suspension for refusal to submit to a breath test in 2011. Simon also had a conviction for DUI in 2011. Bond was set at $2,500.
