Seminole Man Facing Felony DUI Charge After Third Drunk Driving Arrest

Authorities in Pinellas County say the third time was decidedly not a charm for a Seminole man they arrested last week on suspicion of drunk driving.

Deputies say the 50-year-old man first came to their attention by way of an off-duty firefighter/EMT who reported on Friday morning seeing a vehicle near Starkey and David swerving in traffic. The witness said the driver was “nodding off” as he drove as well.

Officers caught up with the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. They say the defendant showed signs of impairment, including slurred speech and difficulty standing straight and still. The man allegedly did poorly on field sobriety tests, and he declined to provide a breath sample to test for alcohol upon request.

The West Virginia native was booked into the Pinellas County Jail later that morning on one count of committing a third DUI and one count of refusal to submit to testing. He was released later that day after posting a bond of $2,650.

The defendant was previously arrested for DUI six years ago, then ten years before that. He was sentenced to one year of probation after pleading no contest on both those occasions. He was also fined last year on a citation for leaving the scene of an accident. Court records show that a person sustained major injuries as a result of the latest DUI conviction.

In addition, Florida court records indicate the defendant has had at least seven violations for driving with a suspended license since 2000.

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.