The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) arrested Habib Bryan Boukari, 45, on Sunday morning for driving under the influence and failing to stay in a lane while driving down SW 34th Street near the University of Florida.  

Boukari, publisher of Alachua Today and owner of Boukari Law, ended with a criminal traffic citation for driving under the influence and a civil traffic citation for failing to stay within his travel lane.  

In the arrest report, Officer Ellis Anderson said he spotted a black Cadillac SUV swerving while driving on SW 34th Street on Sunday at 3:30 a.m. The vehicle almost hit the curb before drifting through the lanes and staying between the inside and middle lanes, the report said. 

Once pulled over, Anderson said he could smell alcohol when speaking with Boukari, who also had slightly slurred speech. The report said Boukari was confused about the situation even after the officer explained what was happening several times.  

Following difficulty with several field sobriety tests, the officer placed Boukari in handcuffs, and Anderson said Boukari immediately complained of having panic attacks and appeared to have trouble breathing. The report said Boukari also complained of chest pain. 

EMS services arrived and transported Boukari to UF Health Shands Hospital. The report said Boukari didn’t cooperate with EMS personnel and that his vitals were normal.  

Anderson said he was unable to complete a breath test because of the transit to the hospital, and the report said Boukari refused a blood draw at the hospital.  

Boukari was booked at the Alachua County Jail and then released to court services for treatment supervision, according to his Monday First Appearance Order.  

Boukari’s arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 28.