A 76-year-old resident of Lake Wales, Florida, Charles Ducking, was stopped by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for suspected impaired driving on U.S. Highway 27 in Waverly. During the stop, he admitted to having consumed rum and using cocaine, authorities reported.
Ducking allegedly told the deputy his license was suspended due to a prior DUI, and he had been drinking. The deputy noticed the smell of alcohol and saw Ducking’s slurred speech and watery eyes. Ducking displayed a thermal cup containing rum.
Officers found a small container with cocaine in his vehicle, which led Ducking to admit using the substance ten minutes before the stop. Earlier, Ducking was arrested for DUI in May; deputies recognized him from this prior incident during the recent stop.
Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized the danger Ducking poses by driving under the influence. Judd praised deputies for proactive patrols that identify and remove impaired drivers from roadways.
Ducking faces charges of DUI, cocaine possession, driving with a suspended license, and possessing drug paraphernalia. He was booked into Polk County Jail after the traffic stop.
Since 2001, Ducking has faced numerous arrests in Polk County, including multiple DUI offenses. After his May arrest, he was released on bond with the condition he abstain from alcohol.
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