‘Just take me to jail’: Woman with 5 prior DUIs arrested in Ocala

A 64-year-old motorist with multiple prior DUI convictions was arrested in Ocala after allegedly swerving on SE Maricamp Road and driving nearly 30 miles per hour under the posted speed limit.

On Tuesday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a white Kia Soul driving recklessly and swerving “all over the road.” An MCSO corporal located the vehicle traveling eastbound on SE Maricamp Road, according to the arrest report.

The Kia was reportedly “weaving out of its lane” and traveling just 23 mph in a 50-mph zone. The corporal conducted a traffic stop near the 9500 block of SE Maricamp Road out of concern that the driver was impaired or experiencing a medical emergency.

Upon making contact with the Kia’s driver, identified as Donna Lynn Harrigan, the corporal noted that she had a “very strong odor of an intoxicating beverage.” In addition, Harrigan reportedly had “bloodshot [and] watery eyes,” as well as slurred speech.

Harrigan initially denied consuming any alcoholic beverages. However, she later told the corporal that she “made a mistake” after being “clean and sober for 21 years,” according to the report.

While speaking with the corporal, Harrigan allegedly admitted that her driver’s license had been revoked. She was then asked to step out of the vehicle, and the corporal noted that she had a “noticeable sway.”

According to the report, Harrigan agreed to perform field sobriety exercises, but she stopped after the initial eye evaluation and told the corporal that there was “no sense in doing it.” Harrigan was then placed under arrest and escorted to a patrol vehicle, where she allegedly failed to follow instructions for a breath test and told the corporal to “just take (her) to jail.”

A criminal history search of Harrigan revealed that she has five prior DUI convictions, spanning from 1983 to 2005 across Colorado and multiple Florida counties. She also has five prior convictions for driving with a suspended or revoked license.

In 2005, Harrigan’s driver’s license was suspended for having four or more DUIs, and it was canceled in 2017 and 2021, according to the report.

Following this week’s traffic stop and subsequent arrest, Harrigan was transported to Marion County Jail, where she remains in custody on a $30,000 bond. She is being charged with DUI (fourth or subsequent offense), driving while license suspended or revoked (third or subsequent offense), and refusal to submit to DUI testing.

A court date for Harrigan has not yet been scheduled, according to jail records.