Manatee Deputy Charges 1-800-ASK-GARY Founder With Drunk Driving

BRADENTON, FL – You can now ask 1-800-ASK-GARY how it feels to be arrested for drunk driving.

Gary Kompothecras, 57, the founder of the doctor and attorney referral service, 1-800-ASK-GARY, has been charged with driving under the influence after getting pulled over for speeding down Interstate 75 at 2:12 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8.

Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Simpson said he stopped Kompothecras’ silver Porsche after Kompothecras passed the deputy’s cruiser doing 100 mph, according to the deputy’s radar unit.

Simpson said he could smell alcohol coming from the driver’s side of the Porsche when he approached the car. As Kompothecras handed the deputy his driver’s license, Simpson said he could also smell alcohol on Kompothecras’ breath.

Kompothecras told the deputy he had some wine at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.

Simpson said he conducted field sobriety tests and Kompothecras failed both tests. Kompothecras, however, refused a breathalyzer test.

He was arrested and taken to the Manatee County Jail.

A chiropractor by profession, Kompothecras lives in a 30,000-square-foot mansion with a bowling alley at 6910 Point of Rocks Road in Siesta Key, Sarasota. In addition to founding the referral service, Ask 1-800-ASK-GARY, and being the former major sponsor of what's now the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, he’s also a producer on the MTV docu-series, “Siesta Key.”

Image via Manatee County Sheriff's Office