A man was charged with his latest DUI after he admitted he was driving on a suspended license while drinking rum and snorting cocaine, according to authorities.
A 76-year-old Florida man was charged with his latest DUI after he admitted he was driving on a suspended license while drinking rum and snorting cocaine, according to authorities.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office identified him as Charles Ducking, of Lake Wales.
This is Charles Ducking's booking photo from his arrest on Sept. 17, 2026. (Photo: Polk County Sheriff's Office)Online records with the sheriff's office show he's been arrested at least 10 times dating back to 2001. Other offences include previous DUI arrests and various traffic violations, felony battery by strangulation, and drug possession.
"While we appreciate Charles Ducking's cooperation during the traffic stop, the fact of the matter is, he is lucky he hasn't yet killed someone or himself while driving drunk and high on drugs," Sheriff Grady Judd. "He has tempted fate too many times, and he needs to make some serious changes in his life before it's too late. I am proud of my deputies for their proactive patrolling to find impaired drivers and get them off the road."
This is Charles Ducking's booking photo from his arrest on Sept. 9, 2001. (Photo: Polk County Sheriff's Office)Judd said a deputy saw Ducking driving a Jeep that was swerving along the highway on September 17. The sheriff said the deputy pulled the Jeep over, noting that Ducking smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech and watery eyes.
When asked for his license, Ducking allegedly told the deputy he could not show it because it was suspended for DUI, the sheriff said.
Ducking also said he was "drinking a little bit right now." He then showed deputies a thermal cup containing a brown liquid and said it was rum, Judd said.
"This here is my rum I'm drinking," Ducking said, according to the sheriff.
As deputies searched Ducking's Jeep, they found a small container with cocaine inside, the sheriff said. Ducking allegedly told them he had just "done a line" of cocaine 10 minutes prior.
Authorities said Ducking showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests. His breath alcohol readings were .094 and .095, above Florida’s .08 legal limit for driving.
Judd said Ducking was arrested on the following charges:
- DUI, fourth or subsequent offense
- Possession of cocaine
- Driving while his license was suspended
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
The arrest came four months after a prior DUI arrest in May, the sheriff said. He had been released on bond -- with a condition that he not possess or consume alcohol.
"During that investigation, his breath alcohol content was .106 and .102," Judd said.
