BUNNELL, Fla. — At 11:33 p.m. on October 10, Sergeant Samuel Bell observed a white Hyundai Genesis make multiple U-turns from the middle lane near the intersection of Belle Terre Parkway and Palm Coast Parkway. Bell conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Stephen Speller of Palm Coast. Speller’s birthday was the same day, and he had just turned 57 years old.
Speller was asked to step out of the vehicle and Sergeant Bell noticed the driver needed support from the car to stand up. When asked why he was driving after curfew, Speller stated he was trying to find a store that was open so he could buy cigarettes.
Due to Speller’s stance and slurred speech, Sergeant Bell conducted an investigation for DUI. During questioning, Sergeant Bell noticed Speller leaning on the trunk of his car and had to take several steps for balance several times. Sergeant Bell observed that Speller’s eyes were bloodshot, and the pupils were heavily dilated to the point where the color of his eyes were barely visible.
Speller was arrested for DUI Influence of Alcohol or Drugs and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. Upon his arrival, two breath samples were obtained which resulted in an 0.00 reading. Florida Highway Patrol was requested as a Drug Recognition Expert, and when the trooper interviewed Speller, he admitted to consuming marijuana edibles. Speller then declined to participate in further Drug Recognition exercises.
“This is an example of what we could see on our streets if recreational marijuana passes in Florida, said Sheriff Rick Staly. “This man admitted to consuming marijuana and then proceeded to drive around Palm Coast stoned and during a hurricane-related curfew just to find cigarettes. Thankfully, Sergeant Bell stopped this man before something serious happened so he could live to see another birthday. He got to see some new bars at the Green Roof Inn.”
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