Gainesville man arrested after allegedly hitting stopped car, then fleeing from police officer
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kevin Lesha Drye, 42, was arrested yesterday after allegedly hitting a stopped car and then fleeing from a police officer because he “had a bad license.”
At about 1:19 a.m. this morning, Drye allegedly swung wide at the intersection of SE 1st Street and SE 1st Avenue and hit a car that was stopped at the intersection, causing an estimated $500 in damage to the victim’s car. A Gainesville Police Department officer reportedly witnessed the incident and initiated a traffic stop in the 200 block of SE 3rd Street.
Drye allegedly continued driving until he turned into the 1100 block of NE 13th Place, where he abandoned the car at the dead end and fled on foot. He was eventually detained after a foot chase.
Post Miranda, Drye reportedly said that he ran because he “had a bad license.” The officer reported that Drye’s license has been suspended several times since 2016; Drye had DUI convictions in 2014 and 2016.
Drye has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, fleeing, resisting an officer without violence, and driving without a valid license. He has three traffic-related misdemeanor convictions. Judge Sean Brewer set bail at $3,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Â
Another career traffic violator who feels he is entitled to drive without consequences. I would be surprised if he actually owned the car he was driving.
There are way too many people who think they should be allowed to drive with no licence, a suspended licence, and no insurance. Legal drivers beware….better have enough uninsured motorist insurance cause you are screwed if you’re hit by one of them.
Maybe he is friends with former Sheriff Clovis Watson’s family.
What a dumb ass.
A glaring lack of appropriate consequences is turning this area into the wild, wild west. We’re doomed – we have been for quite some time.