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A 76-year-old Florida man with a suspended license allegedly admitted during a traffic stop that he had been drinking rum — later telling deputies he had also recently used cocaine — just four months after a separate DUI arrest, authorities said.
Charles Ducking, 76, of Lake Wales, was pulled over after a sheriff’s deputy allegedly observed him swerving while driving along U.S. Highway 27 in Waverly, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy detected the odor of alcohol and noticed that Ducking allegedly had slurred speech and watery eyes.
When asked for his driver’s license, Ducking allegedly told the deputy it had been suspended.
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Charles Ducking allegedly told a Polk County sheriff’s deputy that his license was suspended because of a DUI and admitted he had been drinking, authorities said. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office; TW Farlow/Getty Images)
“Well, I can’t show you my driver’s license cuz it’s suspended cuz DUI. And I have been drinking a little bit right now,” he said, according to the sheriff’s office.
Officials said Ducking then showed the deputy a silver thermal cup containing a brown liquid.
“This here is my rum I’m drinking,” he said, according to the sheriff’s office.
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Charles Ducking, 76, was arrested in Polk County, Florida, after deputies said he admitted to drinking rum and recently using cocaine during a traffic stop. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
A traffic deputy who responded to conduct a DUI investigation immediately recognized Ducking from a previous DUI arrest in May, the sheriff’s office said.
Officials said deputies also found a small orange container containing cocaine during a search of Ducking’s vehicle, which allegedly prompted Ducking to tell law enforcement he had “done a line” 10 minutes before he was pulled over.
During field sobriety tests, Ducking displayed several indicators of impairment, and breath tests registered blood alcohol concentration readings of .094 and .095, above Florida’s .08 legal limit for drivers.
“While we appreciate Charles Ducking’s cooperation during the traffic stop, the fact of the matter is, he is lucky he hasn’t yet killed someone or himself while driving drunk and high on drugs,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement.
“He has tempted fate too many times, and he needs to make some serious changes in his life before it’s too late,” Judd continued. “I am proud of my deputies for their proactive patrolling to find impaired drivers and get them off the road.”
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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd (left) beside Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey (center) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, on April 19, 2021. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Ducking was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail. He was charged with DUI — fourth or subsequent offense — possession of cocaine, driving with a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the sheriff’s office, Ducking was previously arrested for DUI in May. He was released from jail days later after posting bond on the condition that he not possess or consume alcohol.
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Officials said Ducking has been arrested nine other times in Polk County dating back to 2001, including multiple DUI arrests.