A Florida man who was off the road after hitting a deer last weekend told a deputy he needed to fix a headlight. But she detected indicators of impaired driving and he was arrested for OVWI.

Kyle Louis Gatlin, 23, Ormond Beach, Fla., was arrested by Deputy Kelly Hutchens of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department early last Saturday morning, February 19.

Gatlin was the driver of a red 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was pulled off the roadway on State Road 57 near County Road 300 South, Newberry, when Deputy Hutchens found him standing alone outside the vehicle around 4 a.m. last Saturday. Gatlin said he had just hit a deer and needed to fix his headlight.

Deputy Hutchens reported the odor of an alcoholic beverage was coming from Gatlin and he showed numerous signs of impairment including poor balance and red, glassy eyes. His jeans were stained and his tee shirt was ripped. There were alcoholic beverage containers in plain view.

Gatlin failed standard field sobriety testing but submitted to a chemical test that was conducted at the Linton Police Department. Results showed he had an alcohol concentration equivalent to .095. The legal limit is 08.

At 6:17 a.m., Gatlin was booked into the Greene County Jail where he was held on a surety-only bond. He has since posted a surety bond and been released.

When he appeared in Greene Superior Court on Tuesday, a public defender was appointed to represent him and he was charged with:

Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, and

Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to at least .08 but less than .15, a Class C misdemeanor.