POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 21-year-old Bartow woman was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) and is facing additional charges after allegedly assaulting a deputy, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
The incident began at approximately 3:18 AM on Saturday, April 5th, when a citizen reported a gray Hyundai Elantra driving erratically and the driver appearing to be half-asleep.
A PCSO deputy located the Hyundai at the intersection of Main Street and Crown Avenue in Bartow and conducted a traffic stop.
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The driver was identified as Sarah Kaitlyn Vaughn, 21, of Bartow.
During the traffic stop, deputies observed that Vaughn was behaving in a slow and sluggish manner. She reportedly told deputies that she had consumed two “Jack & Cokes” at a club in Ybor City.
Vaughn subsequently performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was arrested for suspicion of DUI, handcuffed, and placed in the back of a patrol car.
According to the PCSO, despite being handcuffed behind her back and seat-belted, Vaughn was able to bring her hands to the front and began striking the patrol car window with the handcuffs. While deputies were re-securing her in the vehicle, Vaughn allegedly kicked a deputy in the stomach multiple times.
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At the Polk County Jail, Vaughn provided two breath samples, which registered 0.107 and 0.106. The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit in Florida is 0.08.
Sarah Vaughn was charged with:
- DUI
- Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO)
- Resisting Arrest with Violence
- Resisting Arrest without Violence
She was also issued citations for:
- Failure to Exhibit a Driver’s License on Demand
- Failure to Signal a Lane Change
- Not Wearing a Seat Belt
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