OCALA, Fla. — A man who was wearing a t-shirt reading “I’m the Reason the Beer’s Always Gone” has been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) after deputies stated that he was driving nearly three times above the legal alcohol limit.
On August 16th, a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) was conducting radar enforcement around Marion Oaks Boulevard and Marion Oaks Manor. During his shift, an orange pickup truck sped past the patrol car, an event that was captured on the dashboard camera. Radar readings confirmed that the vehicle was traveling at 89 mph in a 45 mph zone.
In response, the deputy activated his emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop, according to the sheriff’s office. The driver of the pickup truck, later identified as 41-year-old James Rix Jr., attempted to evade the deputy by fleeing and turning off the lights on his truck.
He turned onto Southwest 32nd Circle in an effort to escape the deputy’s pursuit. However, his evasion was unsuccessful, and the deputy managed to catch up with him.
Video footage from body cameras shows deputies conducting a DUI traffic stop on Rix. The deputy noted the smell of alcohol on Rix’s breath and observed that he was having difficulty maintaining his balance. During the stop, Rix can be seen wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “I’m the Reason the Beer’s Always Gone.”
According to the sheriff’s office, Rix performed poorly on the Field Sobriety Exercises. As deputies moved to place him under arrest, his demeanor shifted from cooperative and cheerful to verbally aggressive.
He was subsequently taken to the Marion County Jail. At the jail, Rix provided breath samples that showed alcohol levels of .204 and .200, nearly three times the legal limit.
Rix has been charged with DUI and attempting to evade a law enforcement officer. In addition, he has received traffic citations for speeding, possession of an open container in a vehicle, and driving recklessly.
