Speeding DUI suspect facing drunk driving charge for second time

A Leesburg man was arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence after he was stopped for speeding and stumbled around prior to sobriety exercises.

A deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle going 70 mph in a 45-mph with a front headlight out near West Burleigh Boulevard and Canal Street around 10:35 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 

Upon approaching the driver, another deputy recognized him as the registered owner, 36-year-old Vinson Fox-Hunt. He was seen fumbling around below his feet before being asked for his driver’s license, to which he continued fumbling something below his feet. He was then ordered to stop reaching around and get out of the vehicle, the report said. 

Fox-Hunt initially refused to comply, but due to officer safety, two deputies escorted him out of the vehicle to detain him. While speaking to deputies, his eyes appeared to be glassy, he was slurring his speech and a faint smell of alcohol came off his breath, the report said. 

As a result, an officer asked Fox-Hunt to participate in field sobriety exercises to make sure he was OK to operate a vehicle safely. He agreed, but his performance led deputies to conclude he was driving under the influence. He refused to submit to a breath test to refute their suspicions, the report said. 

The report noted that Fox-Hunt had previously been convicted of DUI in 2011. 

Fox-Hunt was ultimately arrested on charge of DUI (second offense). He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $2,000.