Staff report

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Henlo Diedricks, 25, of Newberry, was arrested yesterday and charged with DUI, DUI with serious bodily injury to another person, and DUI with property damage after allegedly crashing his car into a ditch and a fence after inhaling nitrous oxide.

At about 7:57 p.m. on August 27, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies and Florida Highway Patrol Troopers responded to a crash on CR 241 (NW 143rd Street), north of NW 39th Avenue. The deputy reported that a gray Mini Cooper with major damage had crashed into a ditch and a wooden fence. Several witnesses stayed at the scene and reportedly told officers that Diedricks had been driving the Mini Cooper south on CR 241 and the car had been weaving in and out of its lane; the witnesses said the vehicle swerved out of its lane and crashed into the ditch and then into the fence. The witnesses reportedly said Diedricks said he had just inhaled nitrous oxide, known as “whip-its.”

Diedricks reportedly performed poorly on field sobriety exercises, and the deputy noted that his lips appeared to be “crusted and looked to have freeze-dried skin on both lips. This is commonly associated with inhaling [nitrous oxide].” The deputy reported finding two bottles of nitrous oxide on the back seat floorboard behind the front passenger seat, and one of the bottles was cold to the touch, indicating it had been used recently.

At the jail, Diedricks reportedly provided two breath samples, which were both 0.000. He reportedly consented to providing a blood sample after he was medically cleared at an emergency room.

Diedricks’ passenger was trauma-alerted to an emergency room, where she was confirmed to have a broken arm; she reportedly stated spontaneously that she and Diedricks had both been inhaling nitrous oxide while driving.

Diedricks has no criminal history. Judge Denise Ferrero ordered him released on his own recognizance to treatment supervision for substance abuse, and she added a prohibition on any alcohol or illegal drugs along with “No huffing.”

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.