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Friday, March 29, 2024

Ocala mom charged with DUI in Liberty Middle School parking lot

Erin Nichole Rodriguez

An Ocala woman was charged with DUI on Wednesday morning after she reportedly drove over traffic cones in the parking lot while dropping off her children at Liberty Middle School.

Multiple witnesses said they saw Erin Nichole Rodriguez, 39, of 9446 SW 31st Court, drive over the cones in the parking lot of the school, located at 4773 SW 95th Ave. A Marion County sheriff’s deputy observed a broken cone at the entrance of the parking lot and one under Rodriquez’s vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office report.

Witnesses also told the deputy that Rodriguez appeared to fall asleep behind the wheel after her kids got out of the vehicle. When the deputy spoke with Rodriguez, she was in the driver’s seat with the engine running and the car in drive. Her words were slurred as she spoke and she was unresponsive at times. The deputy noticed a strong smell of alcohol on Rodriquez’s breath, the report said.

Rodriguez denied consuming any alcoholic beverages that day. The deputy tried to have her complete field sobriety exercises, but she was too unsteady on her feet and unable to stand, according to the report.

While the deputy was speaking with her, Rodriguez tried to drive away after being told she was not allowed to. She was detained and placed in handcuffs to keep her from trying to get back into the vehicle, the report said.

Another deputy arrived at the scene and asked Rodriguez if she’d be willing to conduct field sobriety exercises. She became belligerent and started rolling around on the ground while yelling. Rodriguez eventually agreed to attempt the exercises but failed and was arrested, according to the report.

While on the way to the Marion County Jail, Rodriguez continued to be belligerent and kicked the door and roof of the patrol car. Once at the jail, she refused to submit breath and urine samples for testing, the report said.

Rodriguez was charged with DUI with a person under the age of 18 in the vehicle. She was released from jail Thursday on $1,000 bond. No court information was available.