Police Stop Reckless Driving Suspect

A Sebring man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $3,500 bail after a police chase through downtown streets moved onto the Sebring Parkway and ended when he crashed his van into a light pole in the Ruby Tuesday restaurant parking lot.

A sheriff's deputy who clocked the driver at 100 mph pursued the vehicle and detained the driver for Sebring police.

Paul William Horace Bostick, 34, of 1309 Osceola Ave., reportedly was behind the wheel of a white Chevrolet van as law enforcement arrived at the scene. Impact with the pole caused it to lean slightly and the bulb inside shattered, the report stated.

It was about 11:13 p.m. Monday, when Sebring police tried to stop the van when the driver reportedly ran a red light at U.S. 27 and Lakeview Drive. The vehicle traveled south and onto Highlands Avenue and headed northbound.

Police ended the pursuit.

The van was located again on Kenilworth Boulevard and turned right onto Lakeview Drive where it ran a stop sign on North Franklin Avenue and into the Indian streets and out again until it drove into a yard and hit a pine tree on Pasadena Avenue.

The driver left the scene of the crash and reportedly went through another stop sign where Sebring police lost sight of the van. It was a short time later the sheriff's deputy spotted it on the Sebring Parkway.

When asked if he had anything to drink, Bostick responded "Lots of beer," the report stated. When asked when he started drinking, Bostick reportedly said "Two weeks ago." He was asked when he had had his last drink. Bostick told police to look in the van, where they reported finding an open container.

A female passenger in the van was also arrested and charged with possession of not more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She remained in jail in lieu of $1,000 bond.

Bostick reportedly agreed to take a breath test at the Highlands County Jail where he blew a .201 and a .191, breath alcohol level. In Florida any reading above .080 is considered over the legal limit.

Bostick was booked into jail Tuesday, on charges of reckless driving with damage to person or property, two counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, obstructing a law enforcement officer without violence.

Additionally Bostick was charged with fleeing attempting to elude a law enforcement officer with lights and sirens activated, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI), possession or display of a canceled or revoked driver's license and driving while driver's license suspended or revoked first offense.