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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Screwdriver-drinking Silver Springs man charged with DUI

Johnny Frye

A 70-year-old Silver Springs man who said he drank two screwdrivers at an Ocala bar was charged with DUI on Sunday night after failing a series of field-sobriety exercises and refusing to take a breath test.

Johnny Frye, of 3151 NE 56th Ave. Apt. E7, was behind the wheel of a gold sedan that stopped beyond the stop bar at a red light at the intersection of East Silver Springs Boulevard and NE 46th Avenue. A Marion County sheriff’s deputy observed that another vehicle had to maneuver around Frye’s vehicle because it was sitting in the intersection, according to the sheriff’s office report.

After the light turned green, Frye continued east on Silver Springs Boulevard as the deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop. Frye failed to stop while the deputy’s lights and sirens were activated. His vehicle was going extremely slow and acted as it if was going to stop multiple times before turning right onto NE 49th Court Road and coming to a stop behind the Pep Boys auto service business at 2170 NE 49th Court, the report said.

The deputy observed Frye’s speech was slurred as he handed over his driver’s license and insurance card. When asked where he was coming from, Frye said the First and Last Tab Bar and Grill in Ocala. He said he had two orange juice and vodkas, according to the report.

Frye agreed to participate in field-sobriety exercises but said he had a back and head injury from falling several months ago. He failed the exercises and was placed under arrest, the report said.

Once at the Marion County Jail, Frye was read the implied consent form but refused to provide a breath sample for testing. He was released Tuesday on $1,000 bond. No court information was available.