Man arrested after drive-thru confrontation with officers

LYNN HAVEN — A Lynn Haven man who was spotted drinking beer in a fast-food drive-thru has been arrested for assaulting two officers before he crashed into a tree, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports.

FHP officers were inside the Subway at 1800 Hwy 77 Sunday at about 4:45 p.m. when one of the employees informed them a patron was outside, drinking a beer in his car while waiting for his food in the drive-thru.

Troopers approached 27-year-old Justin Devon Caldwell outside. When Caldwell had his window rolled down a quarter of the way to speak with the officers, the troopers noticed he had a bottle of beer and a can of beer in the center cup holders. But when he was asked for his license, Caldwell cursed at the troopers and punched the gas.

Both of the officers had to jump back to avoid being struck by the car as it sped off through the busy Lynn Haven Shopping Center parking lot, FHP reported.

FHP started to pursue Caldwell until they saw that he had struck a tree and came to a halt near the entrance of the shopping center.

He was ordered out of the car at gunpoint and arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Caldwell was also charged with reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and taken to Bay County Jail.