A Winter Haven man is being held without bond in the Marion County Jail after he allegedly battered a woman and sped off drunk at around 100 mph in Dunnellon.
Shannon Denzil Lucas, 45, was charged with domestic battery (second or subsequent offense), DUI (third violation within 10 years), refusal to submit to a DUI test after a license suspension, and driving with a suspended license (habitual offender).
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy responded Thursday to a report of a man battering a woman in front of Marion County Fire Station 31, located at 11240 SW Hwy. 484. A husband and wife reported they saw a man, later identified as Lucas, hitting and kicking the victim and trying to force her into a silver Honda Accord, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The witnesses said the victim was in the middle of the road in front of the fire station, waving her arms and screaming for help. They pulled over and the victim came over to them, while Lucas took off westbound on Highway 484, the report said.
The victim said she and Lucas has been drinking. She said Lucas was driving and she was in the passenger seat when she told him to pull over so she could get out. The victim said once the vehicle stopped, Lucas grabbed her hair and punched her. She said she was trying to get away when Lucas grabbed her left arm and tried to force her back into the vehicle, according to the report.
Ultimately, the victim was able to get away and run to the witnesses, who called 911 as Lucas fled the scene. The deputy observed multiple bruises on the victim’s arm near her left bicep and a bruise on the left side of her chest near her neck. The victim also had several scratches on her left arm that appeared fresh, the report said.
Dunnellon Police officers helped search for Lucas and observed a silver Honda Accord traveling westbound on SW Highway 484 at an estimated 100 mph in a 55-mph zone. They eventually caught up with the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop 19204 E. Pennsylvania Ave., where they confirmed the driver was Lucas, according to the report.
A sheriff’s deputy responded and was told by Dunnellon officers that Lucas did not have a valid driver’s license, was behaving disorderly and appeared to be under the influence. The deputy noticed a strong odor of alcohol on Lucas’ breath, the report said.
After being read his Miranda warning, Lucas told the deputy he was out on bond for DUI and refusing to submit to a breath or urine test in Okeechobee County. He also said he had consumed two or three shots of vodka about two hours earlier. Lucas said he drank the alcohol in Winter Haven and drove to the Dunnellon area to meet up with the victim, according to the report.
Lucas did not have a driver’s license but provided a Florida identification card. He agreed to conduct a series of field sobriety exercises, which he failed. Lucas was placed under arrest. A search of his vehicle turned up an open bottle of vodka that was about three-quarters full under the driver’s seat, the report said.
Lucas was extremely disorderly on the way to jail. Once there, he refused to provide a breath sample and continued to be disorderly and scream profanities at the deputy, according to the report.
Lucas was previously convicted of domestic battery in October 2014 in Miami Dade County Court and DUI in June 2014 in Monroe County. He will appear in Marion County Court on the latest charges on Dec. 1.