DUI suspect arrested at taser point at 7-Eleven

A Leesburg woman was arrested for drunk driving after she was seen swerving in traffic before stopping at a 7-Eleven.

Police responded to a call regarding a possible drunk driver, later identified as 31-year-old Brittany Lashae Jenkins, in the area of U.S. Hwy. 27/441 and Eagles Nest Road around 1:32 a.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. 

While on the way to the scene, the officer observed a note in the call indicating that the vehicle had pulled into 7-Eleven, located at 2058 U.S. 27/441. He arrived and saw a white Chrysler 300 with front end damage, which matched the description given by the complainant, parked in the north end of the parking lot, the report said. 

The officer saw Jenkins walking away from the vehicle. She was entering the convenience store by the time he got out of his patrol vehicle. He ordered Jenkins to come to him, but she ignored this order and continued into the store, the report said. 

Jenkins walked through the store while talking on the phone despite the officer following her and giving her commands to stop walking away from him. He also identified himself as an officer, the report said. 

Because Jenkins chose to actively resist the officer’s lawful commands, he drew a taser and pointed it at her, warning her that she would be tased if she did not stop walking away from him. He was then able to secure Jenkins in handcuffs, the report said. 

Jenkins smelled heavily of alcohol and stated several times that she needed to use the restroom. The officer escorted her to his patrol vehicle and requested EMS to respond to evaluate her for any injuries. The report noted that a civil crash investigation was conducted by another officer. 

A K9 unit officer spoke with the complainant about the incident, who stated that he was following behind the vehicle as it traveled on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 through Lady Lake. The vehicle was running red lights, speeding and swerving all over the road, and he saw it going through a ditch. He was able to identify Jenkins as the driver and confirmed that he saw her exit through the driver’s door of the vehicle, the report said. 

After being medically cleared and upon completion of the crash investigation, the officer asked Jenkins if she would participate in field sobriety exercises due to her showing signs of alcohol intoxication. She agreed to do so but continued to show signs of impairment, including watery bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, memory loss and mood changes. She also used her arms for balance and swayed while balancing, the report said. 

Due to her performance during the exercises, the officer felt that Jenkins’ normal capabilities were impaired. She was placed under arrest and transported to the Lake County Jail where she was asked to provide a sample of her breath to determine its alcoholic content, the report said. 

Jenkins initially refused but later agreed to provide a sample. During the first test, she was unable to correctly follow instructions which resulted in the instrument not receiving a proper sample. The test was done again which resulted in 0.150g/210L and 0.146g/210L of breath, the report said. 

After finishing the tests, Jenkins was released to jail staff and charged with DUI and resisting officer without violence. She was released from jail after posting $2,000 bond.