Report: DUI suspect sprayed Axe into his mouth to cover smell of alcohol

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — A South Carolina man deputies pulled over on suspicion of drunken driving sprayed Axe body spray in his mouth to mask the smell of alcohol, officials said.

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Spartanburg County deputies conducted a traffic stop Saturday night on a car that was speeding and swerved into another lane, The State of Columbia reported, citing a Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office incident report.

The driver, identified as Efren Mencia-Ramirez, “was spraying Axe body spray in his mouth when (the deputy) approached to cover the smell of alcohol on his breath,” according to the report.

Mencia-Ramirez had an open bottle of beer in his lap, deputies said. There was a 12-pack of beer on the passenger floorboard, and 11 of the 12 cans had been opened, according to the report.

Mencia-Ramirez told deputies he had only drank one beer, the report said.

Deputies arrested Mencia-Ramirez and charged him with driving under the influence after he reportedly failed field sobriety tests. At sheriff’s office headquarters, Mencia-Ramirez provided a breath sample that yielded a .15 blood-alcohol content, which is nearly twice the legal limit, the report said.

Mencia-Ramirez was charged with DUI, open container, no proof of insurance and no valid S.C. driver’s license.

Cox Media Group