A Leesburg man was arrested after he was spotted ordering breakfast at McDonald’s.
Jean Donald Estime, 43, who lives at 2221 Aitkin Loop at the Overlook at Lake Griffin, was in a black Honda SUV at 4:44 a.m. Saturday in the drive-through lane at the McDonald’s on 14th Street when a Leesburg police officer saw him slouch down in his seat and pull up his hoodie.
The officer felt that the driver’s actions were suspicious so he ran the license plate number, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The computer check revealed that the SUV’s tag had expired in May and that the registered owner’s driver’s license was suspended. The computer check also showed that the driver was wanted on warrants out of Sumter and Marion counties.
As the officer pretended to place an order, he continued to watch the Boston native. The officer had been able to pull up Estime’s photo on his computer and had a clear view of Estime as he received his food. The officer contacted three other officers who were on duty that morning and directed one to go to Estime’s residence on Aitkin Loop while the other two would assist him in the traffic stop.
Once through the drive-through lane, the officer turned on his emergency lights to execute a traffic stop on Estime’s SUV. The forklift operator began to flee at a high speed, running several red lights. The officers discontinued the chase and drove to Estime’s home where they arrested him as he was getting out of his SUV. They found a baggy containing marijuana under the driver’s seat of the SUV.
In addition to the warrants, he was arrested on charges of fleeing to elude law enforcement, driving while license suspended and possession of marijuana. He was booked without bond at the Lake County Jail due to a Marion County probation violation.
