Crash Preceded DUI Arrest in East Lake Bank Parking Lot

An East Lake man was charged with DUI and careless driving after authorities say he lost control of his 2004 Jaguar on East Lake Road and hit a guard rail.

Joseph Paoletti, 53, was arrested March 25 in the parking lot of the East Lake Bank of America, 2551 Tarpon Woods Blvd., after refusing to take a breathalyzer test, according to an arrest report obtained by East Lake Patch. A Patch reader photographed Florida Highway Patrol officers and Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies responding to the incident (see attached photos).

Paoletti was driving southbound in the outside lane of East Lake Road at about 2 p.m., when his Jaguar hit a guard rail on the right side of the road. The impact of the crash caused the car to spin and hit the guard rail multiple times. After the crash, Paoletti drove north on East Lake Road and pulled into the Bank of America parking lot, according to the report.

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper said that when he arrived, he could smell alcohol and Paoletti was leaning over as if he were sleeping. When the trooper asked Paoletti what city he was in, Paoletti replied "St. Petersburg." Paoletti also told the trooper he was not on medication and had not been drinking alcohol.

Paoletti refused to perform field sobriety tests, according to the report, and he also refused to take a breathalyzer test. When the trooper told Paoletti he would lose his license for refusing to submit to the tests, Paoletti allegedly began to chuckle, saying, "I'll just get a good lawyer, I don't have anything on my record. I'll get my license back." The report described Paoletti's attitude as cooperative, sarcastic cocky, profane and sullen.

Paoletti was booked into the Pinellas County Jail and released the next day after posting $250 bond. His damaged Jaguar was towed from the Bank of America parking lot. He was not injured in the crash.

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