Bicyclist arrested for DUI after nearly causing multiple crashes

A 65-year-old Big Pine Key bicyclist was arrested Monday night after driving into oncoming traffic despite orders from a Deputy to walk home.

Michael Eddie Brackins was charged with DUI bicycle, DUI with a blood alcohol content of .15 or higher, resisting arrest, threatening a law enforcement officer, assault and possession of drug paraphernalia (marijuana pipe).

Deputy Brandon White was called to the Winn-Dixie on Big Pine Key at approximately 8 p.m. where a manager stated Brackins was threatening customers and causing a disturbance. Brackins rode away on his bicycle on the wrong side of the road and into oncoming traffic despite orders from Deputy White to stop. Deputy White stopped Brackins on Wilder Road and warned him that he was trespassed from the grocery store. Deputy White instructed Brackins to walk his bike home after Brackins admitted he had been drinking.

Brackins walked approximately 20 yards from Deputy White, and then got back on his bicycle and rode into oncoming traffic again and was nearly struck by a pickup truck and a sport utility vehicle. Deputy White yelled at Brackins to get out of the road. Brackins then attempted to strike Deputy White with his bicycle. Deputy White then stopped Brackins. Brackins failed field sobriety exercises.

Brackins resisted as Deputy White attmpeted to place him in the back of the patrol car.

Brackins threatened to harm Deputy White multiple times en route to jail.

Man arrested for receiving cocaine via mail

A 26-year-old Key West man was arrested Monday after a package addressed to him was intercepted by the Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service containing an ounce of cocaine.

Zachary David Houle was charged with trafficking in cocaine.

Two Sheriff’s Office Detectives were conducting some package interdiction training with U.S. Postal Inspectors earlier this month in Fort Lauderdale when they came across a package addressed to Houle. Sheriff’s Office K9 Coral alerted to the presence of drugs in the package.

On Aug. 16, a Sheriff’s Office Detective, a U.S. Postal Inspector and a U.S Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent went to Houle’s residence with the package.

Houle stated he was expecting about an ounce of cocaine in the mail.

Houle agreed to open the package and it contained approximately an ounce of cocaine.

Houle stated he had received similar packages in the mail in the past.

Houle was taken to jail.

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