PALM COAST, Fla. — A Palm Coast man was arrested Friday on DUI charges for the second time in 35 days after deputies found him apparently asleep behind the wheel of a parked Tesla, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Stephen Barnier, 49, faces charges of DUI and refusal to submit to DUI testing for a second or subsequent time. The sheriff’s office released body camera footage of the arrest.
Deputies responded Friday evening to a report of a suspicious vehicle near Sharps Discount Liquors in Palm Coast. A caller said a white Tesla had been parked outside for several hours and a man inside had been seen vomiting.
Deputies found Barnier in the driver’s seat. He initially did not respond when they knocked on the window, identified themselves and shined a flashlight inside, according to the sheriff’s office.
After repeated attempts, Barnier opened a rear passenger-side window. Deputies reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol inside the vehicle.
Barnier then got out of the car without being asked. Deputies said his eyes were watery, his clothing appeared wet and his breath smelled of alcohol. He could not explain how long he had been in the parking lot.
Earlier DUI case still pending
Deputies learned Barnier had been arrested Aug. 28 on charges of DUI and refusing testing, and that his driver’s license was suspended.
According to the sheriff’s office, Barnier acknowledged knowing about the suspension and said his earlier DUI case was still active.
Barnier completed one field sobriety exercise, then began walking away as a deputy explained the next one. When deputies stopped him and asked whether he was refusing to continue, he did not answer and placed his hands behind his back, the agency said.
Deputies arrested Barnier and took him to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he refused to provide a breath sample.
The sheriff’s office said Barnier was being held without bond after his bond in the earlier DUI case was revoked at his first appearance.
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