A Leesburg man was apprehended on his way home from Outback Steakhouse for driving under the influence.
An off-duty officer from Astatula phoned the police to a residence on River Run Drive around 7:35 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. He had noticed 74-year-old Steven Floyd Ragar shifting between lanes in a black Mercedes, indicating that he was intoxicated and prompting the traffic stop.
An officer from the Leesburg Police Department attended and instantly detected the odor of alcohol on Ragar’s breath. Ragar mentioned that he was having a lovely dinner at Outback Steakhouse and lived close. He then agreed to get out of the car for field sobriety tests, according to the report.
He clutched the top of the vehicle’s door frame for support and leaned on the truck to keep from falling as he slowly exited. He stood in a wide stance, leaning forward and swaying as the officer commanded him. His face and head appeared hot, and his eyes were shiny, according to the report.
Ragar slurred some of his words and had mood swings. His manner changed from respectful to puzzled and irritated. He completed the exercises, but he lost his balance and did not follow the instructions. His performance led the officer to believe he was under the influence. He eventually declined to produce breath samples, according to the report.
The Kentucky native was arrested for DUI and refusing to submit to a DUI test. He was booked into Lake County Jail and released after posting a $2,000 bond.
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