A vigilant motorist’s tip about a reckless driver Monday night led Flagler County deputies to arrest a Palm Coast man who was allegedly driving on a suspended license and wanted in Indiana for multiple felonies.
Howard Johnson, 60, was taken into custody near State Road 100 and Old Kings Road following reports of a blue Ford pickup swerving through traffic. According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), deputies located the vehicle as it exited a RaceTrac gas station through an entrance-only lane with its headlights turned off. The truck then reportedly crossed three lanes of traffic and ran a red light while attempting a U-turn.
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Upon stopping the vehicle, deputies noted Johnson appeared nervous and slurred his speech. An open beer can was reportedly found on the passenger floorboard.
Body-cam video shows Johnson struggling to stand still and failing to complete portions of a field sobriety test. He was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.
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During processing, investigators discovered Johnson’s legal troubles extended far beyond the traffic stop. He holds four prior DUI convictions in Indiana and is currently listed as a fugitive from justice in Lake County, Ind. His outstanding warrants include charges for dealing cocaine, possession of a firearm by a violent felon, and endangering a person while operating a vehicle impaired.
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“When you decide to get behind the wheel of the car, you take on the responsibility of operating that vehicle sober and safely,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. “Within seconds of leaving the gas station, Johnson had committed several traffic violations and was a clear risk to everyone around him. Because a vigilant citizen ‘saw something and said something,’ a dangerous drunk driver was taken off the roadway and a fugitive was apprehended.”
Johnson refused a breath test at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. He is currently being held on an $81,000 bond for the local charges and is awaiting extradition to Indiana.
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