Impaired Driver Arrested After Causing Series of Crashes

                                                                                                             NEWS RELEASE #: 17-049 - FEBRUARY 21, 2017

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested a Venice man Saturday night after he caused a series of crashes along South Tamiami Trail in Venice.

Deputies responding to a call for shoplifting at the Walmart located 4051 S. Tamiami Trail, first noticed the suspect around 6:30 p.m., when he crashed into two cars and then fled southbound toward the Jacaranda Crossings Plaza. According to a witness who followed the suspect to the McDonald's parking lot, the driver again crashed into another vehicle and after realizing his vehicle was blocked in, fled the area on foot. The driver, later identified as Charles Garrett, DOB 12/02/88, ran back to the Walmart parking lot where he was apprehended by responding deputies. Garrett tried several times to get away from deputies and had trouble recalling details of the crashes. When DUI Unit deputies conducted a field sobriety test, Garrett blew a .232 blood alcohol content, nearly three times the legal limit.

Garrett, of 131 Southland Road, is charged with three counts of DUI with Property Damage, three counts of Hit and Run, three counts of DUI .15 or Higher, three counts of Driving with a Suspended License, and one count of Resisting an Officer without Violence. He remains in custody today on $4,220 bond.

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Charles Garrett