A drunk driving suspect was taken into custody after swerving across the road and nearly sideswiping another driver before coming to a stop at the Water Oak entrance in Lady Lake.
Around 12:55 a.m. Sunday, an officer noticed 21-year-old Shaniah Takirra Damu Bernadin of Dundee driving 64 mph in a 55-mph zone on the south end of Lady Lake, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department. She slowed to 46 mph for a green light at the crossroads of Eagles Nest Road and US Highway 27/441.
The silver Toyota Corolla then accelerated again, reaching 52 mph. The officer began following it to run its tag, and the vehicle slowed to 35 mph. It then swerved into the bicycle lane near the Cove Apartments (735 S U.S. Hwy. 27/441), where it remained for two tenths of a mile, according to the report.
On several occasions, the vehicle struck the white fog line on the right side of the road and crossed the dashed white lines on the left side of the lane. The officer then switched on his emergency lights, which caused the vehicle to shift lanes and nearly sideswiped another driver, according to the report.
The vehicle moved into the left lane, just south of Lady Lake Boulevard. It was still using the left turn signal and nearly drove over the median into oncoming traffic. Bernadin drove for nearly a mile before stopping at the Water Oak neighborhood entrance, where she was immediately removed from the vehicle, according to the report.
Bernadin agreed to take part in field sobriety tests, and her results prompted the officer to believe she was under the influence. She got indignant and hostile, refusing to obey by screaming and passively protesting. According to the report, she disobeyed directions and twice slid her handcuffs from the back to the front of her body on her trip to jail.
She had to be tied to a chair while at Lake County Jail. She flatly refused to submit a breath sample after failing to cooperate. However, a search of the vehicle turned up a half-empty 1.5-liter bottle of Real Sangria, which was cool to the touch due to condensation. There were also three empty cans of White Russian cut water vodka and coffee liquor, which contained 13% alcohol by volume, according to the investigation.
Bernadin was charged with DUI, driving with a suspended or revoked license, resisting without violence, and refusing to submit a breath sample. She was booked into the Lake County Jail and released after posting a $3,000 bond.
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