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With 2-Year-Old In Car, Man Hits Tree, Faces DUI Charges

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 30, 2007

BRANDON - A Brandon man driving under the influence of alcohol despite having his 2-year-old son in the car drove through a yard and crashed a Dodge into a tree, Hillsborough County deputies say.

Deputies arrested Justin G. Sauls, 32, late Saturday.

He crashed the 1991 Dodge into a tree about 10:56 p.m., a criminal arrest affidavit says. He drove away as a witness came to help him.

Sauls was found driving in the area several minutes later, and deputies stopped him at Telfair and Short roads in Brandon.

The Dodge was damaged. Sauls had a bloody face and smelled of alcohol, according to the affidavit. He could not talk or be understood, and several empty bottles were found on the car's floorboard.

Field sobriety tests showed he was impaired, the affidavit says. He refused to take a breath test.

Deputies charged him with felony child neglect and misdemeanor counts of DUI, DUI with property damage and leaving the scene of a crash.

He remained in Orient Road Jail on Sunday. His bail was set at $3,250.

Information on the child's condition was not immediately available.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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