A 68-year-old Ocala man with prior DUI convictions is facing his third charge in 10 years after a deputy allegedly saw him driving erratically and found an open cup of alcohol during the ensuing traffic stop.
The incident occurred on Friday, July 17, when a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed a silver Chevrolet Suburban swerving and failing to maintain its lane while traveling on E. Highway 40, according to the arrest report.
While following the SUV, the deputy reported seeing it enter a right turn lane at a red light near the intersection of Highway 314A. The vehicle then proceeded to drive straight through the intersection, reportedly cutting off a semi-truck in the process before briefly swerving into the oncoming lane.
The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the SUV’s driver, identified as Victor Alan Woodard. According to the report, Woodard had a “strong odor of alcohol” and slurred speech, with the deputy adding that Woodard also had difficulty retrieving his driver’s license.
Woodard agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises. During the evaluations, he reportedly struggled to maintain his balance, failed to walk heel-to-toe, and incorrectly recited the alphabet.
After Woodard told investigators he had “bad knees,” the deputy allowed him to sit against the bumper of his vehicle to repeat the finger-to-nose and alphabet exercises. Despite the accommodation, Woodard still allegedly failed both exercises.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Woodard admitted to consuming a few beers and a few shots of Knob Creek bourbon, according to the report. When asked to rate his level of intoxication on a scale of one to ten, Woodard reportedly rated himself a “three.”
During an interior search of the SUV, deputies allegedly located a half-empty bottle of bourbon, as well as a metal cup containing alcohol sitting in the driver’s seat cup holder. This prompted the deputy to ask Woodard about the cup, and he reportedly replied, “Yeah, you right about that one.”
Woodard was placed under arrest and transported to Marion County Jail. A criminal history check revealed that Woodard had two prior convictions for driving while impaired in North Carolina from 2018 and 2020.
While at Marion County Jail, Woodard allegedly refused to provide a breath sample, and he was released from the facility later that same day after posting bond. He is facing a felony charge for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (third violation within 10 years) and a misdemeanor charge for refusing to submit to a DUI test.
A court date for Woodard has not yet been scheduled, according to jail records.