Cops make four DUI arrests over weekend

A 70-year-old man with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit was among the four DUI arrests deputies made last weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, deputies and fire police had barricaded the intersection of Shoal Line and Osowaw boulevards because of a brush fire in the area.

Around 6 p.m., the driver of a silver Toyota ignored deputy's commands and attempted to drive around the barricades. Deputies stopped the driver, Arthur Larsen, and said they noticed signs of intoxication.

Field sobriety tests were skipped because Larsen had "an extremely hard time" keeping his balance, according to report. He was taken to the county jail on suspicion of DUI, where he reportedly provided a blood alcohol level of .235 and .238. Florida law presumes intoxication at .08.

On Sunday, shortly before 7 p.m., a traffic deputy on Commercial Way reportedly clocked a car traveling 85 mph in a 60 mph zone. The car was pulled over near the intersection of Woodland Waters Boulevard and, after a brief conversation, the deputy believed the driver was drunk.

The driver, Karen Johnson, handed over a cup holding rum to the deputy before stepping out of her car and performing field sobriety tests, according to a report.

Johnson, 45, failed the tests and was taken to the county jail on suspicion of DUI. She reportedly provided a BAC of .227 and .222.

In a separate arrest, a deputy patrolling Northcliffe Boulevard around 1 a.m. Friday said he watched a white Ford pickup truck make a wide turn as it left a bar parking lot.

The deputy followed the pickup and pulled it over after he said it drifted over the fog line multiple times. A traffic deputy performed field sobriety tests and determined the driver, Beth Villafana, was intoxicated.

She was arrested on suspicion of DUI; a search of her vehicle reportedly turned up several prescription medications, some of which were not prescribed to her.

Villafana, 45, was taken to the county jail on charges of DUI, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drugs without a prescription; she reportedly provided a blood alcohol level of .121 and .119.

Finally, on Sunday, a deputy began following a silver Pontiac Bonneville as it traveled north on Commercial Way around 1:30 a.m. The car was pulled over after swerving several times and the deputy determined that the driver, Robert Lambert, might be under the influence.

Lambert, 29, reportedly refused to do field sobriety and told the deputy, "you might as well take me to jail." When the deputy asked why, Lambert answered: "I'm too drunk to be driving," a report states.

The deputy met his request and arrested him on suspicion of DUI. He did not provide a breath sample for testing.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.