DUI Balloons into Grand Theft

What began as a traffic stop on suspicion of driving under the influence resulted in multiple traffic charges, and ultimately a charge of grand theft, auto. Late Thursday evening, Sgt. Vemon Hammock stopped a red 1987 Volkswagen driven by Mark Edward Martin,44, on Highway 24 at Cedar Street. According to Sgt. Hammock, Martin refused to give a home address, refused a sobriety test and later a breath test, He was driving with a suspended driver`s license, had no vehicle registration, had a false license tag on the vehicle and refused to sign any of the many citations. What appeared to be Martin`s car was impounded and he was transported to the Levy County Jail.

On Friday Cedar Key Police were asked to be on the look-out for a red 1987 Volkswagen that had just been reported stolen in the vicinity of Otter Creek. CKPD`s thirteenth DUI arrest in 2003 paid the dividend of recovery of a stolen car before it was known to be stolen.