A Eustis man was arrested for boating while impaired when an officer spotted him sailing too close to other boats and kids on Lake Dalhousie.
An officer was patrolling Lake Dalhousie from the boat ramp when he spotted a vessel with three subjects on board on Friday, May 24, according to an arrest report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. The operator, later identified as 32-year-old Jordan Edward Fincher, had swimming-style shorts on with a hat and no shirt. He was driving fast and extremely close to other vessels and children on floats in the lake.
The officer later contacted Fincher at his father’s home on the lake. During close interactions with him, he showed signs of impairment, including slurred speech, bloodshot and watery, glossy eyes, and instability while standing. The officer requested Fincher’s identification based on what he observed, the report said.
Fincher did not provide identification and would not cooperate with the officer as he tried to identify him and conduct an investigation. His name and date of birth were later confirmed with the help of a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy, the report said.
The officer then tried to conduct field sobriety exercises on Fincher, but he was uncooperative and would not comply with his request. Based on his refusal to cooperate with the officer’s request and his signs of impairment, Fincher was placed under arrest. He later refused to speak with the officer or submit to a breath test, the report said.
Fincher was charged with operating a vessel while normal faculties impaired, refusal to submit to blood/breath/urine and interference or obstruction of an FWC officer. He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $3,000.