A homeless man was charged with DUI on Wednesday night after being pulled over in Belleview for driving erratically.
Manuel Estrada Hernandez III, 43, told a Belleview Police Officer he was swerving because he was searching for his wallet and lighter, but he failed a series of field sobriety tests at the scene and later registered levels of 0.158 and 0.150 in breath tests, according to the arrest affidavit.
At 9:17 p.m., the officer was behind a maroon Chevrolet pickup truck, driven by Hernandez, that was heading north in the 6200 block of SE Abshier Boulevard when it drove off the pavement, onto the grass median, and back into the outside lane. The truck continued to drift in and out of its lane and almost struck another vehicle before the officer initiated a traffic stop in the 5100 block of SE Abshier Boulevard, the report said.
Hernandez told the officer he didn’t have his driver’s license because he couldn’t find his wallet. He said he was currently homeless but provided his parents’ address of 100 Sunset Way in Fruitland Park. When asked if he had anything to drink that evening, he said he had one beer and one mixed drink around noon and 1 p.m., according to the report.
After failing the field sobriety exercises, Hernandez was taken to the Marion County jail, where his identity was confirmed and he was given the breathalyzer test. As he was read his Miranda warning, Hernandez became uncooperative and said he needed it read in Spanish. He then acted like he had a mental illness and couldn’t understand the warning before eventually saying he didn’t wish to answer any questions, the report said.
Hernandez was charged with driving under the influence with an alcohol level of 0.015 or higher. He was released Friday on $1,000 bond.