Lakeland Man’s Morning Commute Ends with Reckless Driving Charges
LAKELAND, Fla. – A morning commute turned into an arrest for a Lakeland man after he was caught driving at an astonishing 115 mph on the Polk Parkway on Tuesday.
Marlin Benjamin James, 35, was pulled over by a Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputy after his 2016 Toyota SUV was spotted traveling at a high rate of speed just before 6 a.m. The deputy’s radar confirmed the vehicle was going 50 mph over the posted 65 mph speed limit.
The SUV’s dangerous behavior didn’t stop at just excessive speed. According to the PCSO, James was seen tailgating and weaving around other cars, even using the shoulder of the road to pass other vehicles.
When the deputy initiated a traffic stop, James reportedly claimed he only thought he was going 90 mph on his way to work in Palm Harbor. He also told the deputy that the arrest was “so unnecessary.”
The deputy, however, saw the situation differently. James was arrested and taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center, where he was charged with Dangerous Excessive Speeding and Reckless Driving.
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