Drive-Thru Stop Results In Arrest

DUI Suspect Heads South On U.S. 19 North

SPRING HILL - A suspected drunken driver was pulled over and arrested Sunday after a deputy spotted him driving southbound on Commercial Way in the northbound lanes, a report shows.

Richard Ferguson, 59, of 9749 Scepter Ave., told a traffic deputy he drank between five and six beers, a report shows.

Ferguson was arrested on suspicion of DUI and taken to the county jail, where he reportedly posted blood alcohol levels of 0.230 and 0.224, nearly three times the legal limit.

'Nagging' Leads To Strangling, Police Say

SPRING HILL - Asked why he reportedly strangled his live-in girlfriend, Dwight Pendergraft gave this motive to a deputy Sunday morning: "There's only so much nagging you can take."

Deputies were at 6264 Mariner Blvd. investigating domestic violence allegations when the victim told them that she had slammed a door during an argument with Pendergraft.

Pendergraft, 65, responded by removing the doors in the house from their hinges and, when the victim intervened, he threw her on the bed and strangled her, a report states.

In his defense, Pendergraft told the deputy that the victim threw a screwdriver at him. He admitted to losing his temper.

Pendergraft was charged with felony domestic battery.

Drive-Thru Stop Results In Arrest

RIDGE MANOR - McDonald's staff alerted authorities to a drunken driver Friday after a man picked up an order in the drive-through, leading to the man's arrest.

A deputy began searching the area of Interstate 75 and Cortez Boulevard around 1:30 a.m. Friday and said he found a car that matched the description provided by McDonald's staff. The car was accelerating unevenly and crossing over the center line, a report shows.

David Ward, 21, of 4928 Lakewood Drive, was arrested on suspicion of DUI after failing field sobriety tests, the driver. He reportedly had blood alcohol content readings of 0.205 and 0.215. Florida law presumes intoxication at 0.08.