In a traffic stop turned drug bust, a Lake Wales man’s reckless driving landed him behind bars for the ninth time on Tuesday evening.
A Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed a green Honda driving erratically on Tuesday evening on Alturas-Babson Park Cutoff Road in Lake Wales.
The vehicle, lacking headlights and taillights, was following dangerously close to the car in front of it.
Upon conducting a traffic stop, the deputy discovered the driver, 41-year-old Timothy Hillis of Lake Wales, was operating the vehicle with a suspended license, no registration, and no insurance.
Further investigation revealed Hillis was in possession of methamphetamine and had a history of driving offenses.
Deputies say his license had been suspended since 2018 due to multiple infractions, culminating in nine prior convictions for driving with a suspended or revoked license. Hillis was subsequently arrested and transported to Polk County Jail.