PLANT CITY, Fla. – Polk County deputies arrested 38-year-old Joshua Kiper of Plant City during the early morning hours of Saturday, March 6, 2021, for DUI after conducting a traffic stop on the vehicle he was driving.
A deputy who observed the white Toyota van failing to maintain a single lane pulled the van over on SR 60 near Fox Creek Drive in Mulberry, at which time he detected signs of impairment, including the odor of alcohol and bloodshot, watery eyes.
The deputy requested the assistance of a Traffic deputy, who responded and conducted field sobriety tests. Kiper was unable to pass any of the tests, including the walk-and-turn, one-leg stand, and horizontal gaze. He was transported to the Polk County Jail and charged with DUI (M1). He was released later that afternoon after posting a $500.00 bond.
Kiper told deputies that he is a soccer coach at IMG Academy, a boarding school in Manatee County.
“We expect more from people who not only work closely with children, but who are also role models to children. Luckily, he was pulled over before he could hurt or kill anyone, including himself, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
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Wish we could get some traffic deputies on our road.