A Leesburg man arrested after a DUI crash last week told police he didn’t know how a handcuff key found on his key ring got there.
Dale Fletcher Williams, 50, of 11530 Layton St., was charged with DUI, DUI with damage to property or a person, and carrying a concealed handcuff key while in custody.
Shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, Leesburg Police responded to the 2500 block of Citrus Boulevard in to investigate a two-car crash and spoke with Williams, who was driving one of the vehicles. Williams’ eyes were glassy, bloodshot, and watery. The officer could smell alcohol on his breath as he spoke, according to the police report.
An officer noted Williams’ actions were strange, as he was very talkative and animated. Williams also was overtly belching. After completing the traffic crash investigation, the officer told Williams he was conducting a criminal investigation for DUI and read him his Miranda warning, the report said.
After a series of field sobriety exercises, the Williams was arrested and taken to the Leesburg Police Department, where he provided two breath samples that came back with blood-alcohol readings of .138 and .146. When told the results, Williams said, “That’s two (expletive deleted) white claws and a shot,” according to the report.
A search of Williams’ criminal history showed he was convicted of DUI in Fruitland Park in 1997. Williams was searched and the officer found his car keys in his right pocket. Also on the set of keys was a Smith and Wesson handcuff key hidden among the other keys. Asked about the handcuff key, Williams said it didn’t belong to him. He said the rest of the keys were his but insisted he didn’t know anything about the handcuff key, the report said.
Williams was taken to the Lake County Jail, where he was released Saturday on $6,000 bond. He will appear in Lake County Court on May 17.