An Apopka woman was arrested for DUI when she admitted to drinking beer after being pulled over at a Red Lobster parking lot in Leesburg.
A trooper observed the driver of a black Ford Mustang, later identified as 30-year-old Alexandra Velazquez, traveling at a high rate of speed in the inside lane of U.S. Highway 441, Mount Dora, around 10:10 p.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol. He estimated her to be going 70 mph in a 50-mph zone, so he made a U-turn and followed the vehicle.
Once the trooper got behind the vehicle, he noted that Velazquez slightly veered into the outside lane with both right tires touching the white fog line. She then slowed down, turned into the center lane and began following too closely to a vehicle ahead. The report noted that the inside and outside lanes were empty.
The driving pattern continued, and the trooper turned on his in-car camera system just passing East Crooked Lake Drive. Velazquez subsequently changed into the inside lane and again got behind another vehicle to repeat the same behavior. As they passed State Road 19, Velazquez had to apply the brakes at times to avoid colliding with the vehicle ahead, the report said.
At that point, the trooper and Velazquez were stopped at the red traffic light facing David Walker Drive. He was able to see the vehicle’s tag and learned Velazquez was the co-owner. Once the traffic light turned green and they were stopped at Banning Beach Road, Velazquez repeated the same behaviors of following too closely, veering over the white fog line and braking, the report said.
They then passed Dead River wherein Velazquez started to speed. The trooper paced her at 80 mph in a 45-mph zone. Due to the excessive speed and previous violations, he turned on his emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop approaching Skinner Avenue, Leesburg. The vehicle stopped in the left turn lane, and the trooper approached the driver’s side, the report said.
The trooper explained the reason for the stop and asked Velazquez for her license. They then moved into the Red Lobster parking lot to get off the roadway and away from active traffic. He approached her again and was able to smell a strong odor of an alcoholic drink coming from her, the report said.
The trooper asked Velazquez if she had any alcohol, to which she acknowledged drinking a “Bud Light.” She also explained that she was coming from “Twin Peaks,” a restaurant. During this conversation, the trooper observed her eyes to be bloodshot, the report said.
The signs of impairment led to the trooper to ask Velazquez to step out of the vehicle pending a DUI investigation. She agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises. Her performance, which included missing steps and using her arms for balance, led to the trooper concluding she was under the influence. She later refused to provide a breath sample, the report said.
Velazquez was arrested on charge of DUI. The Texas native was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $1,000 bond.