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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ocala woman popped for DUI after visit to liquor store

Thomas Huber

An Ocala woman was charged with DUI after reportedly running into a speed limit sign on the way to a liquor store.

Chontee Renee Joyner, 33, of 1 Aspen Lane, was wearing two pairs of sunglasses and her windshield wipers were on full speed in sunny weather when she was pulled over at around 5:30 Tuesday.

The witness who reported Joyner told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy she observed a white Nissan SUV driving northbound on SE 58th Avenue, swerving into both north lanes. The witness said the vehicle turned onto SE Dogwood Road, went off the road and struck a speed limit sign, according to the sheriff’s office.

The witness said the vehicle pulled into the parking lot of Unique Liquors, 6149 SE 58th Ave., and a white female – later identified as Joyner – got out and went inside the store. The witness said Joyner came out of the store, got back into the vehicle and exited the parking lot on SE Dogwood Road, the report said.

While approaching the intersection of SE Dogwood Road and SE 58th Street, the deputy observed saw a white SUV enter the intersection traveling southbound. The deputy followed the vehicle as it turned right onto SE 58th Avenue and saw it fail to maintain the right lane and continuously swerve fully into the left lane. The vehicle turned west (right) onto SE 66th Street and into the oncoming turn lane, almost striking another vehicle, before the deputy conducted a traffic stop, according to the report.

The deputy observed what appeared to be fresh damage to the driver’s side rear bumper, which was dented and had yellow paint on it. There were also several scratches to the driver’s side rear door, the report said.

When asked for her driver’s license, Joyner provided an ID car belonging to her daughter. She spent several minutes looking for her license before giving up. At that point, Joyner spontaneously said, “I’m not drunk. Can you just follow me home?” When the deputy stepped back to the patrol vehicle to speak with another deputy, Joyner started driving away, according to the report.

The deputy told Joyner to stop and she complied. She was unable to maintain her balance and almost fell several times while walking to the patrol vehicle. After Joyner failed the first several field sobriety exercises, the deputy discontinued them out of fear she would fall into the roadway and injure herself, the report said.

Joyner was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where a breathalyzer test came back with readings of .089 and .093. Joyner later told the deputy she takes prescription Prozac. She was released from jail Wednesday on $1,000 bond. No court information was available.