An intoxicated driver needed a little encouragement to exit his vehicle Saturday morning as deputies attempted to arrest him for DUI. The open sunroof provided the perfect portal to deploy OC spray.

On July 8th at 2:16 a.m. Sergeant K.P. Lytle was assisting another deputy with a DUI investigation at the divergent diamond of Courthouse Road when he observed a Chevy Cruz turn westbound into the eastbound lanes. Sgt. Lytle ran back to his patrol car and conducted a traffic stop on the wayward driver near the I-95 South off-ramp.

The driver was identified as a 42-year-old male from Stafford and had slurred speech and glassy eyes. There was also the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the Chevy. Sgt. Lytle obtained the suspect’s information and returned to his patrol car to await his back-up unit, Deputy R.T. Philippsen.

When the deputies returned to the suspect vehicle, the suspect refused to lower the window, unlock the door, or exit the vehicle for field sobriety tests. Deputies continued to attempt to reason with the driver, but he refused to comply. The suspect was informed he was under arrest, but still would not lower a window or unlock the door. Deputies warned the suspect of OC spray and explained they did not want to damage his vehicle, but the suspect was steadfast in his decision to remain in the vehicle.

A burst of OC spray through the open sunroof and a strike to the passenger side window provided ample motivation for the suspect to open the car door. He was charged with DUI with a blood alcohol content between .15 and .20, obstruction, drinking while driving, littering, and failing to obey a highway sign. The driver was held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Great work by the deputies to get this intoxicated driver off Stafford roads. Drive sober or get pulled over.