DUI suspect arrested after flipping Jeep near Arlington Ridge

A Leesburg man was arrested on a drunk driving charge after flipping his Jeep onto a grassy shoulder near Arlington Ridge.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department Communications Division transferred an emergency call to the Leesburg Police Department regarding a single-vehicle rollover crash near 27101 U.S. Hwy. 27 in the southbound travel lanes just north of Arlington Ridge Boulevard around 8:12 p.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from LPD. 

Multiple officers responded to the area and observed a black 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee lying on its driver’s side on the grassy shoulder of the southbound travel lanes. The driver and sole occupant, 55-year-old James Joseph Lawton, was evaluated on scene by the Leesburg Fire Department and Lake County Fire Rescue, the report said. 

One of the officers conducted a traffic crash investigation and completed a crash report. After speaking with Lawton, the officer advised that he observed Lawton’s speech to be slurred. The officer also spoke with a witness who was later contacted again over the phone, the report said. 

The witness advised that while traveling southbound in the outside lane of U.S. Hwy. 27, Lawton’s vehicle tried to illegally pass the witness’s vehicle by traveling to the right of it onto the grassy shoulder. Lawton then lost control and flipped at least once. The witness stopped to help Lawton climb out of the vehicle by opening the front passenger door as the driver’s door was on the ground, the report said. 

One of the officers next spoke with Lawton and informed him that a criminal investigation was underway. While communicating with Lawton, the officer observed that he spoke with a thick tongue and had slurred speech. He also noticed the distinct odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage coming from his person and later his breath, the report said. 

Lawton subsequently agreed to conduct field sobriety exercises but advised that he might fail. The report noted that while performing the exercises, he was unsteady on his feet and could not follow instructions. As a result of his observations, the officer concluded that he was under the influence, the report said. 

The officer subsequently transported Lawton to the LPD for the booking process. He provided two samples of 0.162g/210L and 0.151g/210L, about two times the legal limit of 0.08g/210L, the report said. 

Lawton was charged with DUI and transported to Lake County Jail. The Maryland native was released after posting $1,000 bond.