By Staff Report
A Chipley man is behind bars after Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies found him impaired behind the wheel of a vehicle.
On June 20, WCSO deputies saw green Dodge truck sitting on the shoulder of the road with its hazard lights on. Deputies made contact with the driver who was identified as 50-year-old, Benjamin Leonard Deakle.
Deakle told deputies he was waiting on someone to pick him up due to a blown tire on the rear of the vehicle.
A license check found Deakle was operating the vehicle with his driver’s license suspended indefinitely due to a prior DUI charge.
Deakle was asked to exit the vehicle. According to WCSO, Deakle admitted to drinking alcoholic beverages that evening which led to deputies conducting a a DUI investigation. According to WCSO Deakle was unable to complete the exercises associated with the Standard Field Sobriety Exercise portion of the investigation. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in deputies locating several empty beer cans and a loaded handgun.
Deakle was arrested and is facing charges of felony DUI -more than 4, possession of a weapon by convicted felon and felony DWLSR – more than 3.
Jim Saunders