Drunkenly driving golf cart through fire scene lands man in jail

Authorities didn’t simply have to contend with this fire at a Van Bibber Lake home on Monday, but also with a man who drove his golf cart through the scene while he was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.

Courtesy photo/PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

VAN BIBBER LAKE — Driving a golf cart across an active fire scene would have been enough to earn a neighborhood man a strong reprimand.

Doing so while under the influence of alcohol? That landed a 50-year-old Van Bibber Lake man in jail Monday evening.

Floyd J. Allen formally faces a Class C misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated in Putnam Superior Court after deputies say he drove his golf cart across the scene were firefighters were still trying to extinguish the blaze.

Deputy Randy Patrick reports that he was dispatched to 6127 Van Bibber Lake Estates at 5:23 p.m. and helped to initially clear the area for the arrival of fire departments. He then remained on the scene with the intent of keeping the public out of the immediate area.

At about 6:45 p.m., Patrick said, Allen approached the scene driving his personal golf cart, proceeding directly through the scene and running over several fire hoses. Continuing past the scene, Allen drove over some orange cones being used to mark the scene.

Patrick followed on foot but lost sight of Allen and his golf cart.

About 10 minutes later, Allen returned to the scene and Patrick confronted him about what he had done wrong.

Allen was slurring his speech and Patrick could smell the odor of alcoholic beverage on him.

Asked by Patrick if he had been drinking, Allen replied, “all day.”

Patrick then noticed an open can of beer in the cup holder of the golf cart and asked if it was Allen’s.

“Yeah, it’s mine, and I’ve been drinking moonshine too,” Allen reportedly told Patrick.

When told it is illegal to drive a golf cart while intoxicated, Allen became upset.

“It ain’t illegal unless I hurt somebody,” he said, adding, “This ain’t even a registered vehicle and Van Bibber is private property. I don’t even need a license to drive my golf cart and drink here.

“I’ve been driving this cart for 10 years out here, drunk as a skunk,” Allen continued, “and now you want to change the laws and come after me for this.”

Asked if he would take a sobriety test, Allen cursed at Patrick, who then advised Allen he was being detained and handcuffed him behind his back.

After Patrick sat Allen down in the back seat of the cart, the man got up on his own and maneuvered the restraints from the rear of his body to the front.

At this point, Patrick called for backup and held Allen at taser point until the arrival of Deputy Jeffery Freeman.

After Freeman arrived, Patrick was eventually able to get the restraints back in the proper position.

Patrick then placed Allen in his vehicle and transported him to the Putnam County Jail, where he was initially charged with driving while intoxicated and refusal to submit to a chemical test.