THE VILLAGES, Fla. – A Lake County man is facing multiple charges after he led deputies on a drunken chase while driving a golf cart in The Villages, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said.
According to an arrest report, around 1 a.m. last Friday, deputies spotted a red golf cart traveling east on County Road 466 near Oak Hammock Path.
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Officials said they attempted to stop the driver — 21-year-old Christopher Esdale — multiple times after he was driving in the middle of the road, which is not an approved roadway for golf carts. Esdale was then seen driving over a curb and onto a golf cart-only pathway, deputies said.
At one point, deputies stopped a patrol car in the golf cart lane and Esdale drove onto the grass and around the car to flee law enforcement, said deputies, who added that Esdale not only refused to comply with flashing lights but several verbal commands to “stop.”
According to the arrest report, a deputy exited his patrol car and reached for Esdale, who attempted to pass him on the golf pathway. Esdale was then pulled from the golf cart onto the ground and was detained, sheriff’s officials said.
Deputies said Esdale had watery eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.
Esdale was booked into the Sumter County Jail on charges of fleeing/eluding law enforcement, resisting law enforcement without violence and driving while under the influence of alcohol.
You can watch dash cam video of an attempted traffic stop below.
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