Staff Report

HAWTHORNE, Fla. – On April 6, Karlina Ana Maricic, 36, from Ft. McCoy, was taken into custody following allegations of erratic driving under the influence, with a young child in her vehicle. During the process of being medically evaluated, she allegedly kicked a deputy twice.

At approximately 5:17 p.m. on April 6, deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call near SE 166th Street and SE U.S. Hwy 301. Several reports indicated a gray Toyota Highlander, with a child in the rear seat, was traveling north on U.S. Hwy 301 at an alarming speed of around 100 mph and was struggling to stay within its lane.

Upon locating the Highlander in the 10500 block of SE U.S. Hwy 301, deputies observed Maricic behind the wheel with the engine running. A 5-year-old child, improperly restrained, occupied the back seat. The vehicle showed visible damage to both its front and rear, notably missing its front right fender entirely.

According to one witness, the vehicle had been undamaged the day before. Another witness described seeing the Highlander recklessly careen into bushes in the Lochloosa region.

A deputy reported detecting a strong odor of alcohol on Maricic’s breath and noted her speech was noticeably slurred.

A third witness, who was a former FHP Trooper, told deputies that when he found the Highlander stopped in the middle of a travel lane near SE 131st Lane, he took Maricic’s keys from her hand in an attempt to keep her from driving, but she was still able to drive away.

A fourth witness provided cell phone video that showed the Highlander swerving between lanes, and a fifth witness reported that the driver of the Highlander was operating her vehicle in a careless manner, swerving between lanes.

Maricic reportedly refused to perform field sobriety tests and refused to provide a breath test at the scene.

Maricic was transported to an emergency room for medical clearance, and when she realized she was going to jail, she allegedly began resisting deputies; she allegedly grabbed the cords from a nearby medical device and tried to strangle herself until deputies took the cords from her.

Maricic allegedly started kicking her legs and kicked a deputy in the thigh. After she was restrained, she allegedly kicked the deputy in the chin. At that point, deputies applied a rip hobble.

While at the hospital, Maricic reportedly said several times that she had not been drinking and driving, and she requested a lawyer multiple times.

At the jail, Maricic was offered the option of consenting to a urine test instead of a breath test, but she allegedly refused all tests.

Maricic has been charged with two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, child neglect without great bodily harm, driving under the influence, and DUI with refusal to submit to testing. She has no local criminal history; Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $145,000.

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.