Three men ended their evening at the Rappahannock Regional Jail after a traffic stop in South Stafford Friday.

On February 16th at 6:58 p.m. Deputy G.M. Lum observed a Chrysler Town and Country failing to maintain the lane of travel. A traffic stop was conducted at Drew Middle School on Cambridge Street. Deputy Lum called for assistance as he discovered five occupants in the van and the overwhelming odor of an alcoholic beverage.

The 32-year-old male driver from Fredericksburg was arrested for DUI, drinking while driving, no driver’s license and improper registration. He was held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.

Two of the passengers were found to be sober, but lacked a driver’s license. They were both permitted to leave the traffic stop on foot.

The remaining two passengers were too intoxicated to walk home, so deputies began devising a plan. One passenger, a 19-year-old male of no fixed address, attempted to run from the vehicle, but was quickly corralled by the duo of First Sergeant D.W. Fetterolf and Sergeant E.E. West. He was charged with public intoxication, obstruction, eluding, underage possession of alcohol and false identification. He was held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail pending his ability to participate in a bond hearing.

Simultaneously to the first passenger fleeing, the other passenger decided to test the speed and agility of Deputy S.T. Myers and Major R.J. Dembowski. This intoxicated passenger, another 19-year-old male of no fixed address, made it across Cambridge Street as the deputies had to pause for a passing tractor trailer. However, the thick briars on the other side of Cambridge Street prevented an escape and the suspect was arrested. He was also charged with public intoxication, obstruction, eluding, underage possession of alcohol and false identity. As with the other arrested passenger, this suspect was held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail pending his ability to participate in a bond hearing.

Drive sober or get pulled over!