| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: SEFFERN, JONATHAN 0623 (AR10118000) did, knowing HIS driver's license or driving privilege had been cancelled, suspended or revoked, drive a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state while such license or privilege was cancelled, in violation of Florida Statute 322.34(2)(a). ON 111910 AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 HOURS, WHILE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANE AT SOUTH SUNCOAST BOULEVARD AND WEST OZELLO TRAIL, I OBSERVED A GREY CHEVY BLAZER TOWING A TRAILER OVERFLOWING WITH SCRAP METAL, WHICH WAS UNSECURED, OPERATED BY A WHITE MALE, LATER IDENTIFIED AS THE DEFENDANT, MR JOHNNY FOSTER. THE VEHICLE MADE A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO SOUTH SUNCOAST BOULEVARD FROM WEST OZELLO TRAIL. AT THAT TIME, I TURNED MY PATROL VEHICLE AROUND AND INITIATED A TRAFFIC STOP FOR THE UNSECURED LOAD OF METAL ON THE TRAILER. UPON CATCHING UP TO THE VEHICLE, I INITIATED A TRAFFIC STOP UTILIZING ALL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. UPON ACTIVATING MY OVERHEAD LIGHTS, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABRUPT LANE CHANGE FROM THE FAST LANE TO THE SLOW LANE AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON MAKING CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER, I NOW OBSERVED THE DRIVER TO BE A WHITE FEMALE. I OBSERVED THE PREVIOUS DRIVER TO NOW BE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. I QUESTIONED BOTH THE PRESENT DRIVER AND THE DEFENDANT IF THEY HAD SWAPPED SEATS WHEN THE ABRUPT LANE CHANGE occurred, AT WHICH TIME, THEY WERE DECEITFUL AND ADVISED NO. UPON FURTHER QUESTIONING, THE DEFENDANT AND PRESENT DRIVER EVENTUALLY MADE THE STATEMENT THAT THEY DID SWAP SEATS WHEN THE ABRUPT LANE CHANGE occurred BECAUSE THE DEFENDANT DID NOT HAVE A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE. THE PRESENT DRIVER STATED THAT SHE HAD NO EXPERIENCE TOWING A TRAILER WHICH WAS THE REASON THE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN DRIVING. AT THAT TIME, I RETURNED TO MY PATROL VEHICLE WHERE A DRIVER'S LICENSE CHECK WAS CONDUCTED AND VERIFIED THAT THE DEFENDANT'S LICENSE WAS IN FACT SUSPENDED. THE DRIVER'S LICENSE CHECK ALSO SHOWED THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN LABELED AS A HABITUAL TRAFFIC OFFENDER. AT THAT TIME, CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE DEFENDANT WHERE HE WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST, HANDCUFFED BEHIND HIS BACK, AND SECURED IN THE REAR SEAT OF MY PATROL VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORT TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. UPON ARRIVAL, THE DEFENDANT WAS ISSUED FLORIDA UNIFORM TRAFFIC CITATION (UTC) 3265-GJX5, FOR DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED, CANCELED, OR REVOKED, AND WAS CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED, CANCELED, OR REVOKED WHERE HIS BOND WAS SET AT $500.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. "If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator at the Office of the Trial Court Administrator, Citrus County Courthouse, 110 North Apopka Avenue, Inverness, Florida 34450, Telephone (352) 341-6700, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.” *NOT-EXEMPT* |
