Deputies Wake, Chase Man Found Passed Out Behind the Wheel

A Lutz man passed out behind the wheel early Wednesday morning, then tried to take off after Florida Highway Patrol troopers woke him up.

According to an arrest report, troopers found Aaron Don Granger passed out in his Jeep in the westbound left turn lane at the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41 at 4:50 a.m. When officers awoke him, Granger began to proceed westbound as law enforcement officers ran beside the vehicle attempting to stop him.

As he drove, Granger put both thumbs up then clapped as the troopers ran alongside his vehicle, according to the report. He then attempted to make a u-turn, running into a curb and impacting a street sign, the report stated.

A trooper broke out the passenger-side window at that time, and Granger was handcuffed and removed from the vehicle without further incident, according to the report.

Granger's speech was sluured and he was unable to recall the incident a short time later, the report stated.

Post-Miranda, Granger consented to field sobriety tests and "performed poorly." He refused a breath test at 6:20 a.m. after being booked into the Land O' Lakes jail.

Granger was charged with DUI and refusal to submit to a breath test. He was released Wednesday afternoon on $150 bond.