A man in Central Florida was caught by the authorities last weekend when he was driving a golf cart down the highway while allegedly intoxicated.
76-year-old Gerard Gorges Provencher is from the small town of Lady Lake, Florida, which is located about 40 miles away from Orlando.
On August 6, Provencher went to Brownwood Paddock Square in The Villages. The area presents itself as an “early 19th century Florida cattle town,” and offers a variety of options for recreation. According to their website, one can choose to partake in “free nightly entertainment 365 days a year from the log cabin stage.” The site is also home to their weekly Farmers Market, annual Strawberry Festival, and several holiday celebrations.
Early in the morning on August 7, Provencher was reportedly driving himself home from Brownwood Paddock Square. The man’s vehicle of choice was a golf cart and he reportedly chose a route that led him down U.S. Highway 301.
An officer with the Wildwood Police Department was in the area, and they reported that they noticed Provencher moving down the highway on the cart.
The police officer performed a traffic stop, and Provencher pulled the cart over.
Provencher reportedly began his interaction with the officer in a cooperative manner.
When he talked about where he was coming from, Provencher reportedly disclosed that he had been at Brownwood Paddock Square where he had a couple of alcoholic beverages.
The officer recorded that a few empty beer cans were sitting in the golf cart. An unopened bottle of beer was also allegedly found.
It was reported that all of the beer containers were cold, and the officer purported that it was because they were recently consumed.
Provencher reportedly initially said he would participate in a breathalyzer test, but when he was unable to operate the machine with success, the man became frustrated and demanded an attorney.
Provencher was taken into custody and booked into the Sumter County Jail. He is facing charges for suspicion of DUI, in addition to a charge for failure to submit to a breathalyzer test. He was released on a $2,500 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a DUI offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.