Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested six individuals over the past weekend who were suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
In a social media post, MCSO stated that its deputies continued to keep the local roadways safe this past weekend by getting the following individuals out from behind the wheel:
39-year-old Ocala resident Daniel Milton Higginbotham was at the County Line Bar when he allegedly pushed a woman to the ground, dragged her across the floor, and threw her into a fence. MCSO stated that Higginbotham then left the area on his motorcycle, and a deputy spotted him at the Circle K gas station on SE Highway 42.
MCSO stated that the deputy could smell alcohol on Higginbotham’s breath, and Higginbotham claimed that he had only consumed two alcoholic beverages. He then attempted to perform a field sobriety exercise without being prompted, and the deputy observed that Higginbotham was “unbalanced.”
When the deputy asked Higginbotham to perform field sobriety exercises, Higginbotham stated that he was physically unable to do them. He was arrested and placed in the deputy’s patrol car. While inside the vehicle, Higginbotham attempted to kick out the deputy’s side window and stated that he “hoped the deputy would die,” according to MCSO.
Higginbotham was transported to Marion County Jail, and he refused to provide a breath sample. He is currently being held at the jail on $2,000 bond, and he is facing misdemeanor charges for battery (touch or strike) and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.
An MCSO deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling 72 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone. The deputy made contact with the driver – 58-year-old Thomas John Conigliari, of Rockwall, Texas – and he provided a Texas-issued identification card.
According to MCSO, Conigliari was showing signs of impairment, and the deputy also confirmed that Conigliari did not possess a valid driver’s license. Conigliari was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he refused to provide a breath sample. A criminal history search revealed that he has two prior DUI convictions.
Conigliari was later released from the jail on $10,500 bond. He is facing a felony charge for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (fourth or subsequent offense) and a misdemeanor charge for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license. A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25, according to jail records.
An MCSO deputy responded to the intersection of SE Maricamp Road and Pine Road in reference to a well-being check on a citizen. The deputy located a man – 41-year-old Littleton resident Keith Christian Cleare – who was unresponsive and seated in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle that was parked in the left-turn lane.
When Cleare awoke, the deputy spoke with him and detected a “very strong odor of alcohol” on his breath. After failing several field sobriety exercises, Cleare was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he refused to provide a breath sample, according to MCSO.
Cleare was later released from the jail on $1,000 bond, and he is facing a misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.
An MCSO deputy was stopped at a red light behind a vehicle. When the light turned green, the vehicle’s driver – 23-year-old Ocala resident Juan Jose Flores-Hernandez – accelerated to speeds reaching 80 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone, and his vehicle swerved across the roadway.
According to MCSO, a traffic stop of the vehicle was attempted, but Flores-Hernandez refused to stop until he arrived at his residence on SW 41st Place Road. The deputy made contact with Flores-Hernandez and observed that he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Empty beer cans were also observed inside of Flores-Hernandez’s vehicle.
Flores-Hernandez was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail. His breath samples revealed that he was driving with a breath alcohol content of .267 and .273, which is more than three times the legal limit.
Flores-Hernandez was later released from the jail on $1,000 bond, and he is facing a misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.
A citizen contacted MCSO to report a reckless driver on Maricamp Road who was driving in the oncoming lanes. A deputy observed the vehicle swerving across the roadway, and the driver – 42-year-old Ocklawaha resident Dustin Scott Edwards – pulled into the parking lot of a nearby McDonald’s fast-food restaurant.
According to MCSO, two deputies made contact with Edwards and could smell alcohol on his breath. After failing several field sobriety exercises, Edwards was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail. His breath samples revealed that his breath alcohol content was .170 and .173, which is more than twice the legal limit.
Edwards was later released from the jail on $1,000 bond, and he is facing a misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence of alcohol (.15 or higher) with a person under 18 in the vehicle. A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.
A citizen contacted the sheriff’s office to report a reckless driver near Highway 200 and Highway 484. A corporal located the vehicle and observed it swerving and driving at various speeds. A deputy also arrived on scene and observed several signs of impairment, according to MCSO.
The driver – 71-year-old Ocala resident Pamela Renee Munton – was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail. Her breath samples revealed a breath alcohol content of .232 and .236, which is nearly three times the legal limit.
Munton was later released from the jail on $1,000 bond, and she is facing a misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence of alcohol. A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.
On its Facebook page, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Remember, if you see somebody driving a vehicle who you think is impaired, you should call 911 to report it. Of the six (6) impaired drivers arrested by deputies this past weekend, concerned citizens called to report three (3) of them to us.”
The sheriff’s office added, “To those of you who called in these reports: Thank you! You may have saved some lives!”