Charles Ducking, a 76-year-old resident of Lake Wales, Florida, found himself behind bars facing a fourth or subsequent driving under the influence charge after a Polk County Sheriff’s office traffic stop. Pulled over while swerving along U.S. Highway 27 in Waverly, Ducking offered deputies a remarkably candid admission about his license status and his choice of in-car beverage.
The Traffic Stop Along U.S. Highway 27
The incident began when a Polk County sheriff’s deputy spotted a vehicle swerving erratically on U.S. Highway 27 in Waverly. Upon pulling the car over, the deputy immediately noted the unmistakable odor of alcohol, alongside slurred speech and watery eyes from the driver. When asked to hand over his driver’s license, Ducking did not hesitate to explain why he could not comply.
“Well, I can’t show you my driver’s license cuz it’s suspended cuz DUI. And I have been drinking a little bit right now,” Ducking told the deputy, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
To substantiate his claim, Ducking pointed out a silver thermal cup holding a brown liquid. “This here is my rum I’m drinking,” he reportedly stated to law enforcement.
A Familiar Face and Further Confessions
The situation escalated when a traffic deputy arrived on the scene specifically to conduct a DUI investigation and instantly recognized Ducking. Records and memory linked Ducking to a separate DUI arrest just four months prior, in May. During a subsequent search of Ducking’s vehicle, deputies uncovered a small orange container holding cocaine. Confronted with the discovery, Ducking allegedly admitted that he had “done a line” a mere 10 minutes before law enforcement pulled him over.
Field sobriety tests quickly confirmed the deputy’s suspicions, as Ducking displayed multiple indicators of physical impairment. Subsequent breath tests measured blood alcohol concentration readings at .094 and .095, both sitting well above Florida’s legal driving limit of .08.
A History of Repeat Offenses and Sheriff’s Warning
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd did not mince words regarding the arrest of the 76-year-old motorist, pointing out the severe danger posed by repeat impaired driving. Ducking had been released from jail just days after his May DUI arrest after posting bond under the strict condition that he abstain from possessing or consuming alcohol.
In a public statement, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd remarked, “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,” adding, “He has tempted fate too many times, and he needs to make some serious changes in his life before it’s too late.”
Judd added his praise for the deputies involved, emphasizing the importance of proactive patrolling to locate and remove impaired drivers from local roads before tragedy strikes. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Ducking’s legal troubles in the county stretch back decades, encompassing nine other arrests since 2001, which include multiple prior DUI offenses.
Following this latest traffic stop, Ducking was booked into the Polk County Jail. He now faces a slate of serious charges, including driving under the influence as a fourth or subsequent offense, possession of cocaine, driving with a suspended license, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
