An Ocala man said he only drank three Heineken beers, but a container of vodka and Red Bull was found in the driver’s door pocket of his vehicle during his arrest on a DUI charge.
At around 5:45 p.m. Sunday, a 2002 silver Honda Accord failed to yield to a Marion County sheriff’s sergeant while turning left from Pine Road onto SE Maricamp Road. The sergeant ended up in front of the Honda as they approached Baseline Road. As the Honda shifted to the right-turn lane to turn onto Baseline, it nearly struck the sergeant’s unmarked vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The sergeant then started following the Honda and observed it fail to come to a complete stop before turning right on red. The Honda then swerved well over the fog line to the right and then over the dashed white lane divider to the left while varying its speed. The sergeant conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, the report said.
Deputies responded to assist with the traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Ruben D. Quessi, 42, of 17 SE 20th Court #25. Quessi’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, and his speech was slurred. Asked if he had consumed any alcohol, Quessi said he had three Heinekens. He agreed to perform a series of field sobriety exercises, which he failed, according to the report.
Quessi was placed under arrest. While searching his car, a deputy discovered a clear water bottle with about an inch remaining of a tan-colored liquid that smelled like an alcoholic beverage. The bottle was found I the driver’s door pocket, somewhat crunched up. There was a Red Bull int the center console, the report said.
Quessi was taken to the Marion County Jail, where a breath-alcohol test came back with readings of .129 and .123. He continued to say he only had three Heinekens. Asked about the beverage in the front door, Quessi said it was Red Bull and vodka mixed 50/50, according to the report.
Quessi was released Monday on $1,000 bond.