DUI suspect hits fence twice and flees only to later crash into a ditch

A Leesburg man suspected of drunk driving was arrested after striking a fence twice and leaving the scene only to crash into a ditch.

Deputies responded to a hit-and-run accident Saturday night wherein a driver, later identified as 54-year-old Marfey Frankling Bailey, believed to be under the influence of alcohol struck a fence twice before leaving the undisclosed Leesburg location, according to a case report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 

While on the way to the scene, deputies received another call advising a truck had crashed into a ditch near the intersection of Northern and Belmont Avenue. One of the deputies went to where the truck and driver were said to have been and found the truck on the side of the road stuck in brush. He saw Bailey sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle with it running, the report said. 

Bailey made many incomprehensible statements upon noticing law enforcement before climbing out through his passenger side door. He had to brace himself on the door to stand properly when he got out. After closing the door, he tried to walk toward a patrol vehicle but stumbled before bracing himself once again on the front of the patrol vehicle, the report said. 

When deputies detained Bailey, he resisted without getting violent. He was handcuffed and had to be assisted getting into the back of the patrol vehicle. He made several vulgar remarks to deputies during this time. Bailey was later unable to complete field sobriety exercises and refused to provide a breath sample, the report said. 

The report noted that the complainant of the hit-and-run, causing an estimated $500 worth of damage, gave an accurate description of Bailey, the report said. 

Bailey was ultimately charged with resisting without violence, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and DUI (third offense more than 10 years). He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.