Winter Haven Man Turns Self In For Drunk Driving

WINTER HAVEN, FL – A Winter Haven man found a foolproof way to stick to his New Year’s resolution to stop drinking and driving.

He simply called 911 and turned himself in.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Lester was celebrating the coming new year with a few beers on New Year’s Eve when he got into his car and proceeded to drive. At this point, he realized he was inebriated and has no business operating a car. So he called an emergency dispatcher and admitted he was drunk and needed to be pulled over.

The dispatcher urged Lester to pull over and waited on the line with him while deputies drove to his location.

Initially, Lester said he had a couple of beers. But he later admitted to having three or four beers on top of swallowing Methamphetamine and sleeping only four hours in the past four days.

Lester was charged with DUI, driving on the wrong side of the road, improper use of the center lane and driving without a seatbelt. Lester is well-known to Polk deputies. He’s previously been arrested for DUI, aggravated battery, drug possession, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and hit and run.

His is among 30 DUI arrests that Polk deputies made during the month of December.

To hear the dispatcher's conversation with Lester, follow this link.

Photo via Polk County Sheriff's Office