A 71-year-old Silver Spring man faces DUI charges after ignoring a deputy’s lights and siren, then trying to flee.
Queen Anne’s County deputies were running traffic stops near Dominion Road and U.S. Route 50 on Oct. 27. They spotted a passing car with a license plate belonging to a different vehicle.
Deputy Meehan followed the car and tried to pull it over around 10:24 p.m. on South Piney Road. The driver kept going even with the patrol car’s emergency lights and siren on. When the car stopped, the driver got out and tried to run, the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office identified the driver as James Dunlavey, 71, of Silver Spring.
Meehan smelled a strong odor of alcohol on Dunlavey’s breath. He also saw an open alcoholic drink in the car’s center console.
Dispatchers found an active warrant for Dunlavey on DUI and eluding charges. His license also carried a restriction.
Dunlavey refused standardized field sobriety tests and a test to measure his blood alcohol level. Deputies then arrested him.
Deputies also found his car was unregistered. Its plate belonged to a rental car company.
Deputies charged Dunlavey with driving under the influence, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license, among other charges.
