SUWANNEE COUNTY, FL – A Lake City man was arrested Sunday after deputies observed him speeding and displaying signs of impairment during a traffic stop in Suwannee County.
According to the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies stopped a vehicle driven by 38-year-old Joshua Alfred Grimes on June 1 along State Road 247 after observing him traveling 70 mph in a 60 mph zone and repeatedly drifting within his lane before crossing lane markings.
During the traffic stop, deputies reported observing several indicators of impairment, including bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech, and increasingly confrontational behavior.
Authorities said Grimes denied consuming alcohol and refused to participate in field sobriety exercises.
After being arrested, Grimes agreed to provide breath samples. Both tests registered 0.00 blood alcohol content.
Despite the negative breath test results, deputies said they continued to observe signs of impairment and requested a urine sample. According to investigators, Grimes refused to provide the sample after being read Florida’s Implied Consent Warning and advised of the consequences of refusal.
During an inventory search of the vehicle, deputies located marijuana inside the glove compartment.
Investigators also reviewed Grimes’ driving history and determined he had a prior DUI conviction and a previous refusal to submit to a chemical test. Authorities said this arrest marks his second DUI arrest and second refusal to submit to chemical testing.
Grimes was charged with:
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- Possession of Marijuana
- Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing
- Resisting an Officer
The Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office noted that impairment is not limited to alcohol and said drivers impaired by drugs or other substances pose the same dangers to the public as alcohol-impaired drivers.