A Eustis man who failed a series of field sobriety tests refused to take a breathalyzer test and was charged with driving under the influence last week in Ocala.
An Ocala Police officer was asked to assist a K-9 deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office with an impaired driver he stopped in the 2800 block of SE 46th Court on April 22. The deputy observed that the driver – Jeffrey Alan Sallee, 50, of 506 E. Gottsche Ave. – had bloodshot and watery eyes and his speech was slurred, according to the OPD report.
The officer made contact with Sallee, who was still in the driver’s seat. The smell of alcohol emitted from he breath and his speech was slurred. When asked if he had been drinking, he said he had four or five beers and had stopped drinking several hours earlier, according to the report.
When Sallee exited the vehicle, he told the officer he had a bad foot and bad nerves in his back and that he was limping or “gimping.”  Because of the pre-existing injuries, the officer cut short the walk and turn and one leg stand exercises. Sallee failed the finger to nose and alphabet exercises, according to the report.
Sallee was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he refused to provide a breath sample for testing. He was charged with DUI first offense (refused). He was released later in the day on $1,000 bond.