LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A 33-year-old woman faces DUI charges after she is accused of driving recklessly, including driving extremely close to power crews that were working, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said that on Saturday at 6:55 p.m. they responded to the area of Highway 42 and Highway 450A in reference to a reckless driver.
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According to an arrest affidavit, a 911 caller reported that a white Chrysler car was “doing doughnuts and slamming on the breaks in the road” in the area of Highway 92 and Rice Road.
Deputies said that while they searched for the vehicle, they were flagged down by a witness who said a white Chrysler vehicle almost hit them before continuing east on Highway 42.
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According to the affidavit, as deputies drove east they witnessed several linemen on the corner of Highway 42 and Highway 450A waving their arms and pointing to the vehicle in question.
Deputies said that when they pulled the Chrysler over, the driver – later identified as Faith Walker – would not provide them with requested information. When asked to turn the vehicle off, Walker instead turned the radio up. When asked again to turn off the vehicle and the radio, Walker turned to “a different song and turned the radio up more.”
Walker was removed from the vehicle after failing to comply with the deputy’s orders and placed into wrist restraints, according to the affidavit.
Deputies said Walker remained combative and as deputies tried to place her into their patrol vehicle, she kicked her legs and tried to use them to push off of the vehicle. A Taser was ultimately used on Walker “due to her noncompliance.”
According to the affidavit, deputies discovered an empty bottle of Fireball whiskey in Walker’s vehicle.
Power workers who witnessed Walker driving told deputies that Walker drove into oncoming traffic, “hooping and hollering” while driving dangerously close to the linemen. The witness also stated that Walker left the area, but later returned and continued to drive recklessly.
Deputies said that while they transported Walker to the Lake County jail, she said “I haven’t drank in years and then is what happens.”
Deputies noted that Walker continued to act erratically, had slurred speech and an odor of alcohol emitting from her. While en route to the jail, she remained angry, “even spitting in the back of my patrol vehicle.”
According to the affidavit, Walker refused a breathalyzer test at the jail and a field test was not performed due to her not being combative and uncompliant with deputies.
Walker faces charges of DUI, failure to obey police or fire department, and resisting officer without violence.
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