BY: 24/7 CRIME DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Miami man is facing an enhanced DUI charge after security in the community of Royal Palm found him slumped over the steering wheel of a Mini Cooper. The security guard called Boca Raton Police and Fire Rescue. Paramedics determined there was nothing medically wrong with the man and turned him over to police who say he was very inebriated.
Roman Okin of Miami, who says he is a “tennis coach,” told police he was looking for a friend’s house at the time he fell asleep in his red Mini Cooper. The following is from the police report reviewed by BocaNewsNow.com:
“While speaking with Okin, I observed Okin to be swaying, his eyes were bloodshot and glossy, he was slurring his speech, and I could smell a strong odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath and person. Based on my observations, I became concerned that Okin had been in physical and actual control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. I asked kin if he would be willing to participate in voluntary field sobriety tasks to dispel my alarm that he was too impaired to be driving.
Okin advised he did not wish to participate. I then informed Okin that if he refused to participate in the voluntary field sobriety tasks, his refusal can be used against him in court as evidence, and I will be forced to make a decision on whether or not he is impaired based on everything I have observed.
Okin then agreed to participate in the tasks. Okin stated he has no physical injuries, no medical issues, no issues with his eyes that are corrected by contact lenses or glasses, and his highest level of education is a graduate degree. I explained and demonstrated each task before kin perforned them. The tasks were performed on a flat, dry and leveled surface with sufficient lighting.”
Police say he had issued performing the tasks. That led to a blood or breath alcohol test which yielded results of .214 and .205. The results are more than two times the legal limit in Florida of .08. The results were so high, according to police, that he was charged with “enhanced” DUI. The enhanced designation is applied for results over .15.
Okin was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail around 8 a.m. on May 21st. He was later released on his own recognizance. A court date is pending.
