A Leesburg man who was arrested for reckless driving allegedly threatened to harm a trooper when he got out of jail.
A trooper was driving eastbound on State Road 46 in Sorrento when 38-year-old Timothy William Connaughton sped past in a white Mercedes AMG GT at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol. Radar confirmed he was going 81 mph in a 45-mph zone.
The vehicle then recklessly drove to the right, cut across the right lane from the middle and entered the striped gore at the on-ramp to State Road 453. Still at high speeds, it passed numerous vehicles using the gore and emergency shoulder on the left. This willful and wanton disregard for persons and property prompted a traffic stop, the report said.
Connaughton was slow to pull over but eventually parked on the right shoulder. He did not have his license, registration or insurance with him. He was subsequently arrested and placed in the back of a patrol vehicle, the report said.
With more law enforcement on scene, the troopers took an inventory of the Mercedes and found two firearms. One was an MPA handgun with an extended magazine and one round in the chamber. The other was a handgun, as well, the report said.
On the driver’s side rear floorboard sat an open container of what appeared to be a liquor bottle. The front seat center console contained a ceramic container of marijuana and a smoking pipe. Although Connaughton claimed to have a medical marijuana card, a check with dispatch revealed he did not, the report said.
Connaughton later advised that he was coming from a warehouse in Eustis, and he had just sold another warehouse on Kurt Street. He had purchased a new warehouse in Tavares three weeks ago, but he did not know the address. He stated it was the old transmission shop on East Alfred Street, the report said.
He added that he had five retail stores throughout Central Florida, and the reason for his driving was that he had an issue at his Fuego Smoke Shop LLC in Clermont. He had a disgruntled guest and was trying to get there for a trespass.
A check of Connaughton’s criminal history determined he had a prior conviction for reckless driving, also in Lake County. It was pled from an original charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer. Records also showed he was stopped a few days prior for speeding, indicating a pattern of bad driving and endangering the public, the report said.
On the way to jail, he became irate and threw numerous sexual derogatory terms toward the troopers. He told one of the troopers to “come see (him) on the outside.” The trooper believed Connaughton was threatening to harm him when he got out of jail, which he did not deny when questioned, the report said.
Other concerning statements included, “I got great lawyers, bro, I’ll see you in court…,” “I got six active investigations against Lake County law enforcement,” and “As soon as I have your name and badge number, it’s reported…”
Connaughton continued to be verbally abusive and unprofessional toward Lake County Corrections Staff, the report said.
He was charged with reckless driving, possession of marijuana (less than 20 grams), possession of drug paraphernalia and crimes against person (corrupt by threatening public servant or family). He was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $12,000 bond.