Gainesville woman arrested on firearm and DUI charges after allegedly driving recklessly on NW 8th Avenue

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Charlin S. Cruz-Pena, 31, was arrested yesterday after an officer reported that she had a gun in her hand when she was pulled over for driving recklessly; she was also charged with driving under the influence and refusing to submit to breath or urine testing.

At about 6:58 p.m. on March 31, a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer conducted a traffic stop in the 2200 block of NW 8th Avenue after observing a car failing to maintain its lane, hitting the brakes hard multiple times, and passing a group of vehicles across double yellow lines; the officer also reportedly saw the driver lean out of the window and yell at the vehicles in front of her before passing them.

When the officer approached the vehicle, he reportedly saw the driver, identified as Cruz-Pena, holding a handgun and trying to conceal it under the seat; the firearm was reportedly loaded and readily available for her use. The officer also noted that there were three juvenile females in the car, and one of the passengers reportedly told an officer that Cruz-Pena’s driving scared her.

The officer reported that when Cruz-Pena got out of her car, she was swaying, her speech was extremely slow and slurred, and she had trouble standing and had to lean on her car to keep her balance. Cruz-Pena reportedly refused three times to perform field sobriety exercises and refused twice to provide a breath sample.

Post Miranda, Cruz-Pena reportedly said she’d had one “Four Loko” alcoholic drink at 9 a.m. but had not had anything to drink since then.

At GPD headquarters, Cruz-Pena again allegedly refused to submit to a breath sample, and she later allegedly refused to provide a urine sample.

Cruz-Pena has been charged with driving under the influence, refusal to submit to DUI testing, and using a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. She has one prior DUI conviction, and Judge Adam Lee set bail at $50,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.