CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Dunedin man accused of driving while drunk on U.S. 19 was arrested Friday morning by Clearwater police. 

  • Anthony Tucker, 60, charged with DUI
  • Tucker drove wrong-way on US 19, police say
  • Incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. Friday 

Anthony Tucker, 60, was spotted by an officer driving north in the southbound lanes on U.S. 19, just south of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, shortly before 3:30 a.m.

Around the same time, authorities said Largo police issued a bulletin for a wrong-way driver headed north from their jurisdiction. 

Multiple Clearwater officers attempted to pull Tucker over while alerting other motorists of the wrong-way driver. However, Tucker refused to pull over and continued driving north until officers were forced to deploy stop sticks. 

Authorities said Tucker eventually came to a stop near Countryside Boulevard when he was unable to get around a large flatbed tow truck. 

Officers said Tucker smelled of alcohol, was swaying and stumbling, and performed poorly on field sobriety tests. 

He is charged with DUI and is being held at the Pinellas County jail. 

(Clearwater Police Department)