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Florida man arrested for DUI, alcohol levels more than 6 times the legal limit, police say

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Published  January 14, 2025 11:39am EST
Polk County
FOX 35 Orlando

The Brief

    • Police said they arrested Miguel Anguel Rodriguez, 43, for a DUI on Jan. 7 in the Haines City area of Polk County.
    • An official arrest affidavit shows Rodriguez's blood alcohol limit was six-and-one-half times the legal limit.
    • Rodriguez currently sits in the Polk County Jail, records show.

POLK COUNTY, Fla. - Police said a Florida man recently was arrested for a DUI, with his blood alcohol levels more than six times the legal limit. 

The Haines City Police Department arrested Miguel Anguel Rodriguez, 43, on Jan. 7 in the Haines City area of Polk County.

Rodriguez currently sits in the Polk County Jail, records show. 

Police said they arrested Miguel Anguel Rodriguez for a DUI on Jan. 7. (Credit: Haines City Police Department)

Details of the incident

The Backstory: A Haines City police officer was patrolling on Jan. 7 when a concerned person called 911 about an unresponsive driver in the area of Davenport Boulevard, an official arrest affidavit shows. 

The responding officer said when he arrived at the scene, he saw Rodriguez unresponsive behind the wheel, with his foot on the brake, the car in gear and the engine running.

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‘Unaware of the events unfolding’

What We Know: Concerned for the safety of the driver and others, the officer said he positioned his patrol car in front of Rodriguez’s vehicle to prevent it from lunging forward into traffic. 

Reports show the officer then attempted to wake Rodriguez, but was unsuccessful. The officer said he forced entry into the passenger-side window, so he could put the vehicle in park and remove the keys from the ignition. Once inside the vehicle, the officer reported observing Rodriguez briefly open his eyes, going in and out of consciousness, but was unaware of the events unfolding. 

Reports show the car had 12 opened and consumed bottles of wine. 

Rodriguez was transported to the hospital, officials stated, where tests confirmed dangerously high levels of alcohol in his system.

Officers reported Rodriguez does not have any prior DUI arrests, but he does have a history of miscellaneous traffic citations.

RELATED: Florida corrections officer arrested for DUI after crash in Polk County

Highest levels seen

By The Numbers: Police said Rodriguez was charged with one count of DUI, indicating a blood alcohol content of .523. 

Reports stated the legal presumption of impairment in Florida is a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher. 

What They're Saying: "This incident underscores the serious dangers of driving under the influence," Haines City Police Chief Greg Goreck said in a prepared statement. "We are grateful for the citizen who contacted law enforcement and that no one was injured. We will continue to work tirelessly to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers and will hold Mr. Rodriguez accountable for his actions."

Goreck stated that in his almost 30 years in law enforcement, more than 10 of those exclusively dedicated to traffic homicide and DUI investigations, Rodriguez’s blood alcohol level was the highest level he remembers seeing where the driver was still alive.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Haines City Police Department.

Polk CountyCrime and Public Safety