A Florida man took nearly three times as many steps as instructed and couldn’t remember his ABC’s during a field sobriety test before deputies arrested him for DUI.
Sgt. Boatwright with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office stopped 56-year-old Sean Grubbs on Sept. 19 after he was reportedly seen weaving in and out of his lane, cutting off another vehicle, and nearly hitting a car. Grubbs continued driving for several blocks before eventually stopping.
Cpl. Robert Young conducted a DUI investigation and reported noticing several signs of impairment. According to the sheriff’s office, Grubbs had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, and difficulty maintaining balance.
Grubbs told deputies that he was heading to his girls’ house on the shore, but Young pointed out he was going the wrong way. The sheriff’s office released body camera footage showing Grubbs struggling through several field sobriety exercises, including one where he was specifically told to take nine steps.
Way More Than Nine
Young was the one conducting the field sobriety tests and instructed Grubbs to take nine heel-to-toe steps in a straight line, turn around, and take nine steps back
Grubbs apparently didn’t understand the instruction.
The deputy can be heard counting as Grubbs continued to walk well past the nine steps he was told to do. By the time he stopped and turned around, Young had counted 25 steps.
“Is that nine?” Grubbs asked.
“You were supposed to be counting,” Young replied.
Even More Tests
The next test involved Grubbs keeping one foot roughly six inches off the ground and counting down until he was told to stop.
Grubbs attempted it but struggled to stay steady and stopped before he was told to.
The body camera footage also shows Young asking Grubbs to recite the alphabet with his eyes closed. Grubbs started off saying it correctly, but became increasingly stuck as he went on, failing to finish it, resulting in his arrest.
Not a First
Grubbs was ultimately arrested and charged with DUI and refusal to submit to a breath sample, subsequent offense, according to the sheriff’s office.
The arrest was not Grubbs’ first encounter with similar charges. The sheriff’s office said he also has a previous conviction for DUI and refusal to submit to a breath sample.
Booking records show that Grubbs was booked on Sept. 19 at 9:41 p.m. with a total bond of $7,500. He was released in the early afternoon of Sept. 21, with a court date set for Sept. 30.
The sheriff’s office used the incident to remind drivers not to get behind the wheel while impaired, noting that there are other ways to get home safely.
Grubbs is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.