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Friday, March 29, 2024

Leesburg man who claimed discrimination jailed after flunking field sobriety test

Jean Donald Estime

A Leesburg man who claimed police were discriminating against him when they pulled him over in Belleview was arrested early Friday after he failed a field sobriety test and marijuana was found in his vehicle.

A Marion County sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop on U.S. Hwy. 441 after observing a white Mitsubishi weaving back and forth, accelerating and decelerating, and crossing into the shoulder multiple times.

The deputy told the driver, Jean Donald Estime, 40, of 2221 Aitkin Loop, that he was being stopped for multiple traffic infractions. Estime said the deputy was discriminating against him and that he didn’t do anything wrong, a sheriff’s office report states.

The deputy smelled a strong odor of alcohol on Estime’s breath and noticed he had bloodshot eyes and thick-tongued speech. When asked if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages, Estime said he had wine six hours earlier, the report says.

The smell of burnt marijuana also was emitting from the vehicle, the report says, adding that a search turned up a half-smoked cigarette containing a green leafy substance that later tested positive for THC.

Estime agreed to take a field sobriety test, which he failed on every count. Due to his driving pattern, statements and field sobriety test performance, Estime was placed under arrest, the report says.

A further search of the vehicle revealed a vitamin water bottle containing an alcoholic beverage. Estime admitted it was alcohol and said he had forgotten it was in the car, the report says.

Estime was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he submitted to two breathalyzer tests that revealed blood alcohol contents of 0.101 and 0.097. He was charged with driving under the influence and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. He was released Saturday on $1,000 bond and is due to appear in Marion County Court on Feb. 13.