A Saturday night traffic stop of a speeding vehicle led to the arrest of a Lutz, Florida man for DUI and drug possession, after deputies found numerous forms of marijuana and open containers in the vehicle.
David Philip Hautsch, 37, was charged with DUI, four counts of possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of marijuana under 20 grams and two counts of possession of paraphernalia.
Around 11:35 a.m., a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on speed enforcement duty when he spotted a vehicle travelling well over the speed limit on U.S. 1 near Mile Marker 31.5. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and met with the driver, identified as Hautsch. A second man was in the passenger seat, but he was asleep.
The driver advised he had just left a bar in Big Pine Key and was heading to Summerland Key. The deputy noted he was traveling in the wrong direction. According to the report, Hautsch appeared intoxicated, due to bloodshot eyes, droopy eyelids and slurred speech.
The deputy asked Hautsch to conduct a field sobriety test, and he agreed. However, he failed all three components of the test. The deputy informed Hautsch he was under arrest for DUI, and then conducted a search of the vehicle. Meanwhile, the passenger was found to be so intoxicated that paramedics were called and transported him to the hospital.
The search revealed numerous empty beer cans, a 12-pack of Bud Light with several beers missing, a prescription bottle with marijuana inside, a glass pipe with marijuana residue, a package clearly labeled as containing marijuana edibles and two containers with electronic cigarette cartridges that field tested positive for marijuana.
Hautsch was transported to the Monroe County Detention Center DUI room, where his breath sample came back as a blood-alcohol level of .191.
Deputies noted Hautsch was extremely cooperative during the stop.
He was placed in jail, but he was released the following day.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
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