Man arrested in DUI/tow incident

A 50-year-old Hallandale Beach, Florida man was arrested Thursday after refusing to allow his pickup truck to be towed.

Mickey Serban was charged with obstructing without violence.

Serban was a passenger in a white Dodge pickup truck. The driver, Julio Wildfredo Yac Xiloj (sic), 35, of Lake Worth, Florida, was charged with DUI and operating a vehicle without a valid license.

Motorists reported the northbound pickup truck was unable to maintain its lane and went into oncoming traffic several times near Mile Marker 56 at 7:58 p.m. Deputy Corbin Hradecky found the truck parked near Mile Marker 56 on the side of northbound U.S. 1.  

Deputy Hradecky approached to find Xiloj slumped over the steering wheel asleep. The passenger, Serban, was also asleep. There was an open beer bottle in console. Xiloj was soon detained for DUI thereafter.

Deputy Hradecky informed Serban, the owner of the truck, that the vehicle was to be towed as he was also intoxicated and unable to drive. Deputy Hradecky offered to get Serban a taxi to get him wherever he needed to go for the night. Serban got back in the passenger seat of the truck and stated the truck was not to be towed. He refused multiple commands to exit the truck. Deputy Hradecky told Serban he couldn’t leave the truck where it was as it was a danger to other motorists. Deputy Hradecky had to remove Serban from the truck. Deputy Hradecky subsequently detained Serban.

Deputy Hradecky again explained why the truck needed to be towed. Serban appeared as though he understood. Deputy Hradecky stated he would take handcuffs off Serban if he refrained from getting back in the truck and complied with Deputy Hradecky. Deputy Hradecky warned Serban that he would go to jail if he obstructed again once the handcuffs were removed.

The handcuffs were removed and Serban began to argue with Deputy Hradecky and got in the Deputy’s face several times. Serban then began badgering the tow truck driver.

Serban and Xiloj were both taken to jail.