A Lakeland man faces multiple charges, including DUI and attempting to elude law enforcement, after an erratic encounter with a Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy Thursday evening.
At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 5th, Deputy Ford initiated a traffic stop on a Chevy pickup truck near the intersection of Kathleen Road and Strickland Road in Lakeland. The stop was prompted after the pickup truck reportedly nearly collided with Deputy Ford’s patrol vehicle.
Upon making contact with the driver, identified as 38-year-old Christopher Welch of Lakeland, Deputy Ford observed an open pizza box on the passenger seat and noted crumbs on Welch’s face…