A tip led to the arrest of a drunk driver traveling with a young child in the back seat early Tuesday evening in Leesburg.
A motorist called 911 and told the dispatcher that he was following a silver Chevy Lumina in the area of E. Dixie Highway and U.S. Hwy. 441. The caller said that the Chevy was unable to maintain its lane and kept hitting the curb. The tipster also said he observed the driver throw out two liquor bottles and that a youngster could be seen moving freely in the back seat, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
A Leesburg officer was directed to the area described by the tipster and spotted the Chevy Lumina. The officer saw the Chevy weaving in its lane and going completely over the fog line several times. He also observed a small child repeatedly sticking his head out of the rear right passenger window. The officer turned on his emergency lights and the Chevy turned into the parking lot of Aspen Dental, 10430 U.S. Hwy. 441.
The driver was identified as 26-year-old Kelsey Bullion of Titusville and she had a six-year-old child riding in the back seat.
The officer could smell alcohol coming from Bullion, who agreed to take part in standardized field sobriety tests. She had difficulty maintaining her balance and had to put her hand on the car to stay upright. She failed the tests and admitted to drinking alcoholic beverages. Lake County EMS was called to the scene and conducted a medical evaluation of Bullion. She was placed under arrest and was taken to the Leesburg Police Department where she took the breathalyzer test. Results showed a blood alcohol level of .186 and .198.
Bullion was booked at the Lake County Jail on charges of driving under the influence with a person under 18 in the vehicle and child abuse. She was released after posting $3,000.
