Tampa Man Collared on Fourth DUI Since October

A Tampa resident has been picked up by authorities for the fourth time in under a year on suspicion of drunken driving.

Hillsborough County deputies say Juan Gabriel Velasco-Arcos was witnessed by other drivers piloting his 2005 Chevrolet pick-up truck the wrong way along Fletcher Avenue at Nebraska Avenue in the pre-dawn hours of September 3. According to deputies, Velasco-Arcos drove about a mile in the wrong direction before crossing the median and continuing in the proper direction on the opposite lanes.

Velasco-Arcos caught the notice of a passing deputy who subsequently stopped him and approached the vehicle. According to the deputy, an open beer can sat in the cup holder next to Velasco-Arcos, and several other empty beer cans littered the floorboards on the passenger side of the vehicle. Velasco-Arcos allegedly failed a field-sobriety test and was arrested.

Velasco-Arcos was transported to Hillsborough County Jail with an alleged blood-alcohol content of 0.198%, which is 0.118% above the level at which Florida statute presumes impairment. According to deputies, this arrest is the fourth time the 29-year-old Mexican national has been charged with drunk driving since October.

He was charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving under the influence, giving a false name to law enforcement, and two charges of failure to appear. Velasco-Arcos was released two days later to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to face charges relating to alleged immigration violations.

The Law Offices of Bjorn Brunvand have been representing people charged with capital murder, felony drug charges, drunk driving, government fraud, and white-collar crimes for over a quarter century. Contact our office today to discuss your Tampa Bay-area state or federal charges.