A Leesburg man was arrested for suspected drunk driving when an officer spotted his vehicle veering on the highway with an open beer bottle inside.
An officer observed the driver of a green Ram pickup truck, later identified as 53-year-old Paul Samuel Molisee, having difficulty maintaining his lane on U.S. Highway 441 around 7:53 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
The vehicle was observed veering out of the left lane and into the center lane, almost striking another motorist traveling there. The officer saw the vehicle travel through the curving road while occupying the left and center lanes simultaneously, the report said.
The officer subsequently activated his emergency overhead lights and tried to stop the vehicle. It continued traveling at about 40 mph. So, the officer turned on an emergency siren, and Molisee began to slow the vehicle while continuing traveling eastbound, the report said.
The officer cycled his siren until Molisee finally pulled off the shoulder and stopped. As the officer approached, he detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the cab and noticed an open Bud Light bottle of beer in the center console. He asked Molisee to get out of the vehicle, to which he complied, the report said.
Outside the vehicle, the officer continued to detect a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Molisee’s breath as he spoke. He was asked to participate in field sobriety exercises and agreed to do so. However, his performance, including swaying and fumbling, led the officer to conclude he was under the influence. He later refused to submit to a breath test, the report said.
Molisee was arrested on charge of DUI and transported to Lake County Jail. The Illinois native was released after posting $1,000 bond.