Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A Texas man might reconsider his driving habits since being arrested for DUI early Saturday morning after reportedly doing multiple burnouts while in the drive-through of a fast-food restaurant.
A burnout is when a driver keeps the vehicle stationary by applying the brake as the driver applies the accelerator. This causes the tires to spin and the friction creates heat and smoke.
It was the sound of such an action that initially drew the attention of a Safford Police officer, who was parked in a dirt lot east of 20th Avenue at about 12:50 a.m.
According to a Safford Police report, the officer heard the sound of the burnout and then witnessed a black, four-door truck perform four or five burnouts while in the drive-through of the Jack-in-the-Box restaurant at 1990 W. Thatcher Blvd.
The officer noted that there were multiple vehicles in front and behind the truck in line at the drive-through and that the burnouts were creating a large amount of white smoke around the truck.
The officer proceeded to the restaurant and waited until the truck, identified as a 2016, black GMC Sierra 2500 Denali edition with a Texas license plate, exited the drive-through.
The officer then initiated a traffic stop and the driver, identified as Devin Speers, of Texas, showed signs of intoxication, including red, bloodshot, and watery eyes, a dazed look, and a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the truck, according to the officer’s report.
After failing field sobriety tests, Speers was placed under arrest for DUI and was taken to the Safford Police Department, where a blood sample was taken for testing purposes. His truck was left locked in the Jack-in-the-Box parking lot.
When Speers was finished being processed, the officer gave him a ride to his hotel and released him. Possible charges from the County Attorney’s Office are pending blood test analysis.
