A Leesburg man was arrested for driving with a suspended license more than a week after a police officer spotted him behind the wheel at a gas station in Tavares.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy arrested 54-year-old Jose Luis Rojas Rodriquez on Tuesday at his home, located at 33507 Ike Ave., in connection with an incident that happened the afternoon of July 1 at the 7-Eleven store at 2153 State Road 19. A Tavares police officer saw Rojas Rodriquez standing at a gas pump next to a white Toyota and noticed he appeared to get nervous when he caught sight of the officer, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Lake County Court.
The officer ran the Toyota’s license plate and saw Rojas Rodriquez was the owner. The computer check also showed Rojas Rodriquez has multiple DUI-related suspensions on his license – three in 2020 and one in 2021. The officer waited in the parking lot to see if Rojas Rodriquez would drive away, the affidavit said.
The officer noticed that the front driver’s side door was open, and there was a female in the front passenger seat. Rojas Rodriguez continuously looked over at the officer, but he would not leave, according to the affidavit.
After several minutes, the officer entered the store to continue his shopping. While in the checkout line, he saw Rojas Rodriguez look inside the store through the large glass pane windows. He then entered his vehicle and drove out of the parking lot southbound on State Road 19. The affidavit noted that due to the time delay of the checkout line and the midday traffic, the officer would not have been able to catch up to the vehicle and conduct a traffic stop, the affidavit said.
Once Rojas Rodriguez was arrested on Tuesday, he was transported to the Lake County Jail. Bond was set at $10,000.
