Unlicensed drunk driver with vodka in center console stopped for speeding

An Orlando woman was arrested for drunk driving with a suspended license in Leesburg with a bottle of vodka in the center console.

Police observed the driver of a red SUV, later identified as 56-year-old Bonnie Gail Brooks, speeding northbound on South 14th Street around 3:51 a.m. Feb. 11, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. Radar showed the vehicle to be going 67 mph in a 35-mph zone. 

An officer turned around and sped up in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but it was traveling too fast. He could only catch up near Citrus Boulevard and North Shore Drive. He then turned on his emergency lights and siren, after which the vehicle pulled to the right, nearly struck the curb and came to a sudden stop, the report said. 

The officer approached Brooks, the driver, and observed watery, glossy eyes and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from her breath as she spoke. He also noticed a small Van Gogh Vodka bottle in the center console within her reach. As such, he asked her to step out of the vehicle, the report said. 

As Brooks stepped out, she stumbled forward. The officer asked her to participate in field sobriety exercises to which she agreed. Her performance during the exercises, including unsteady coordination, slurred speech and swaying, led the officer to conclude she was driving under the influence, the report said. 

The officer placed Brooks under arrest for suspicion of DUI as a result. A check of her driving history showed her license was canceled indefinitely for failing to complete substance abuse treatment, four prior convictions for driving while her license was suspended and one prior DUI conviction from March 20, 2019. She was subsequently taken to LPD for an evidentiary breath test resulting in 0.125g/210L and 0.124/210L of breath, the report said. 

While at LPD, she refused to acknowledge or sign criminal citations issued by the officer, the report said, 

Brooks was ultimately charged with DUI (alcohol or drugs second offense), driving while license suspended or revoked (canceled indefinitely) and two counts of refuse to sign citation. She was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $4,000.