A 33-year-old Winter Haven man was arrested Sunday evening after allegedly crashing his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit. The incident occurred near the intersection of Canal Road and Rocky Point Road in Lake Wales, shortly after a disturbance was reported at Cherry Pocket Restaurant.
Deputies were initially dispatched to the restaurant around 7:22 p.m. in response to reports of an allegedly intoxicated male causing a disturbance. Witnesses told law enforcement that the man, later identified as Michael Paul Levidiotis, had allegedly gotten into a white Ford Explorer and driven away heading east on Canal Road.
Minutes later, deputies were alerted to a single-vehicle crash just east of the restaurant. According to the PCSO arrest affidavit, the vehicle involved matched the description from the earlier disturbance call. When deputies arrived at the crash scene around 7:25 p.m., they observed a damaged fence, tire tracks into a wooded area, and a blaring car horn. Levidiotis was allegedly found seated in the driver’s seat with the door open.
Witnesses at the scene said the vehicle had veered off the road, nearly striking another car before crossing the roadway and crashing into the woods at a high rate of speed. Deputies reported that Levidiotis initially failed to comply with commands to exit the vehicle and had to be physically assisted out and detained.
Deputy Hinson conducted a DUI investigation at the scene. According to the arrest affidavit, Levidiotis allegedly showed multiple signs of impairment, including slurred speech, watery eyes, an unsteady stance, and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. He allegedly stumbled while exiting the patrol car and had difficulty standing without support.
While some standardized field sobriety tests were not conducted for safety reasons, others were attempted. According to the affidavit, Levidiotis allegedly failed the finger-to-nose and Romberg balance tests, showing indicators consistent with impairment. Deputies stated he tilted his head back, kept his eyes open when instructed to close them, and repeatedly missed touching the tip of his nose.
Levidiotis was transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center, where he allegedly refused to provide a breath sample despite being read the Implied Consent Warning. The affidavit notes that a strong odor of alcohol was detected in the backseat of the patrol vehicle after his transport.
He was charged with DUI (alcohol or drugs), DUI with property damage, and resisting an officer without violence.
