A Lady Lake man was arrested for driving without a license as a habitual offender with 15 active suspensions and revocations.
An officer observed the driver of a silver Nissan Juke, later identified as 27-year-old Jerrell Tay’Ron Hopkins, traveling northbound on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 around 2 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. He knew Hopkins from prior involvements and was aware he did not have a valid license.
Furthermore, the officer saw a black frame around the vehicle’s license plate that covered the top portion of it, making it unreadable. The officer subsequently turned on his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop. After continuing northbound for some time, Hopkins pulled off onto American Lane, the report said.
The officer approached Hopkins who admitted he did not have a license. The officer returned to his patrol vehicle where a check of Hopkins’ license showed he had 15 active suspensions and revocations, including two revocations on Aug. 12, 2021, for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement. He had also been designated a habitual traffic offender multiple times, the report said.
A check of Hopkins’ criminal history showed he had seven prior convictions for driving with a suspended license, the report said.
Hopkins was subsequently arrested for driving while license suspended with knowledge (habitual offender – eighth offense). He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $5,000.