A woman who paid a steep price for storming out of a salon last year in The Villages is back in trouble again.
Carolyn Deborah Harmelin, 72, who lives at the Lake Sumter Apartments on County Road 466, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of driving under the influence.
She was at the wheel of a dark blue Toyota in Ocala when she nearly collided with another vehicle, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. During a traffic stop, Harmelin, who had a female passenger in the car, claimed they were heading to a funeral and got lost, prompting her to accidentally make a wrong turn. As the deputy was trying to direct Harmelin, he heard a call come across the radio, reporting a reckless driver in the area. Harmelin’s vehicle matched the description of the vehicle in the reckless driving advisory.
Harmelin’s passenger told the deputy that Harmelin had asked her to ride to the funeral with her. The passenger said she suspected Harmelin had taken pills prior to the trip. She also said Harmelin had been driving in excess of 80 miles per hour in a zone with a 40 to 45 mph limit. The passenger admitted she had texted in the reckless driver reported while Harmelin was distracted…