Suspected drunk driver falls asleep in BMW following shot of Fireball

A Leesburg man was arrested for DUI after falling asleep in his BMW and blocking an intersection after having a shot of Fireball.

A deputy responded to 33929 Shawn Drive regarding a man, later identified as 24-year-old Devin Aurele Hawes, inside of his BMW blocking an intersection leading into the apartment complex with his vehicle on, according to an incident report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 

Upon the deputy’s arrival, he relieved another deputy who made contact first and began his investigation. He spoke with Hawes in the front seat of his 2020 BMW. Hawes advised that he was just sleeping and had passed out. At the time, he did not know where he was and was startled by law enforcement’s contact, the report said. 

During the conversation with Hawes, the deputy noticed a small Fireball shot bottle next to him in the pocket of the driver’s side door and an alcoholic odor coming from his breath. Hawes’ speech was slurred, and he had slow movements when reaching for his wallet. The deputy asked him if he had any alcoholic beverages that evening, and he stated that he had only drank the Fireball shot bottle next to him, the report said. 

The deputy next asked Hawes to step out of the vehicle, but when he stepped out, he planted both feet on the ground and used his vehicle as support. Hawes then agreed to perform a series of field sobriety exercises, stating that nothing would prevent him from completing the exercises, the report said. 

Upon starting the walk and turn exercise, Hawes fell off balance multiple times and had an incorrect count on his first nine steps. Although he was told it was a continuous exercise, he stopped walking multiple times to catch his balance whilst making an improper turn. The one leg stand exercise took Hawes about one minute to complete, and he lost his balance before finishing, the report said. 

This performance during these exercises led the deputy to conclude that Hawes was driving under the influence. Breath tests taken later resulted in 0.084 and 0.074 blood alcohol content, the report said. 

Hawes was subsequently arrested on charge of DUI (first offense). He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $1,000 bond.