Combative Drunk Driver Fought Law Enforcement and Lost
BUNNELL, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested a combative drunk driver after he became agitated and engaged in physically resisting arrest Tuesday evening.
Shortly after 7 p.m., the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of East Moody Boulevard and North Palmetto Street to assist the Bunnell Police Department with conducting a DUI investigation following a traffic stop after the driver made an illegal U-turn.
The driver, Richard Lakin, 56, of Palm Coast, stated he had just left a bar, where he drank four beers. Lakin had slurred speech, bloodshot and glossy eyes, the odor of alcohol on his breath, and an argumentative demeanor. As a result, Lakin was asked to perform field sobriety exercises.
Richard Lakin (Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility mugshot)
During the initial exercise, Lakin became visibly angry and argumentative, eventually walking away from the exercise toward the officer’s patrol car. When asked where he was going, he stated, “I’m going to jail” and “You all got me.” Lakin was advised that if he did not complete the field sobriety exercises, he would in fact be going to jail.
During his arrest, Lakin became even more agitated and began to resist and was taken to the ground and eventually placed in handcuffs. While on the ground, he continued to resist arrest and began flailing his legs, at one point striking a deputy and causing a minor abrasion. While being picked up and then walked to the patrol car, Lakin continued to berate them.
The Bunnell officer and two deputies suffered minor injuries, including abrasions and gashes sustained in the scuffle. Flagler County Fire Rescue paramedics evaluated them on scene. Lakin refused treatment and began yelling and hitting his head on the cage partition of the patrol car.
During an inventory search of the vehicle, deputies located a half-full Coors Banquet beer in the back passenger floorboard.
Lakin was previously arrested in 2021 for battery and obstruction without violence, when he shoved a bartender and resisted arrest. He pled no contest to those charges and adjudication was withheld. He also has a history out of Duval County, where he was charged with disorderly intoxication, battery, and obstruction without violence in 2017. His previous charges also extend outside of Florida, he was charged with possession, assault, and destruction of property in Maryland.
“This aggressive drunk has a history of fighting, battery and obstruction of law enforcement. He fought the law and the law won,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I promise you that if you resist arrest and batter a deputy or police officer you will always end up at the Green Roof Inn. Hopefully, he thinks twice before getting behind the wheel drunk or choosing to clash with law enforcement again.”
Lakin was arrested for DUI, resisting with violence, three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, and refusal to submit to a breath test. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he was later released on $14,000 bond.
View video of Lankin’s arrest.###