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Story summary
A 76-year-old man named Charles Ducking from Lake Wales, Florida, was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) on September 26, 2023. Despite having a suspended license due to a previous DUI in May, Ducking admitted to drinking rum and using cocaine while behind the wheel of his car near Waverly along U.S. Highway 27. During the traffic stop, a deputy from the Polk County Sheriff's Office detected the smell of alcohol and observed signs of intoxication like slurred speech and watery eyes. When asked for his license, Ducking said it was suspended due to another DUI. He then showed the deputy a thermal cup containing rum. Authorities noted that Ducking had been recognized by the responding deputy from his earlier arrest just four months prior. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd commented, "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."
Written for “Florida Man DUI Arrest” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
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.
uncertain
authorities → suspend → arrest
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.
uncertain
him → pull → Office
The deputy detected the odor of alcohol and noticed that Ducking allegedly had slurred speech and watery eyes.
uncertain
Ducking → detect → speech
When asked for his driver's license, Ducking allegedly told the deputy it had been suspended.
uncertain
it → ask → deputy
"Well, I can't show you my driver's license cuz it's suspended cuz DUI.
asserted
it → show → DUI
And I have been drinking a little bit right now," he said, according to the sheriff's office.
uncertain
he → drink → office
Officials said Ducking then showed the deputy a silver thermal cup containing a brown liquid.
asserted
Ducking → say → liquid
"This here is my rum I'm drinking," he said, according to the sheriff's office.
uncertain
he → drink → 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.
uncertain
office → respond → May
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.
uncertain
he → say → line
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.
asserted
tests → display → 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.
asserted
Judd → appreciate → 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.
asserted
Judd → tempt → life
"I am proud of my deputies for their proactive patrolling to find impaired drivers and get them off the road.
asserted
I → find → road
Ducking was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail.
asserted
Ducking → arrest → Jail
He was charged with DUI — fourth or subsequent offense — possession of cocaine, driving with a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia.
asserted
He → charge → paraphernalia
According to the sheriff's office, Ducking was previously arrested for DUI in May.
uncertain
Ducking → accord → May
He was released from jail days later after posting bond on the condition that he not possess or consume alcohol.
asserted
he → release → alcohol
Officials said Ducking has been arrested nine other times in Polk County dating back to 2001, including multiple DUI arrests.
asserted
Ducking → say → arrests
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