• Home
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact
Lake Legal News
  • Home
  • News
  • Favorite Topics
    • An LLN Interview
    • Publisher’s Personal Favorites
    • Odds & Ends
    • Of Interest to Lawyers
    • Civil & Criminal
    • From Our Archives
    • Of Interest to LLN
    • Humor’s Last Stand
    • Guest Author
    • Book Review
  • Online Only!
  • Read Our Magazines
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Favorite Topics
    • An LLN Interview
    • Publisher’s Personal Favorites
    • Odds & Ends
    • Of Interest to Lawyers
    • Civil & Criminal
    • From Our Archives
    • Of Interest to LLN
    • Humor’s Last Stand
    • Guest Author
    • Book Review
  • Online Only!
  • Read Our Magazines
No Result
View All Result
Lake Legal News
No Result
View All Result
Home LLN'S Hot Headlines

Firefighter’s BAC Level Nearly Double Florida’s Limit — DUI Manslaughter Investigation Hindered When He Falsely Claimed COVID-19

by Marilyn M. Aciego, LLN Editor-in-Chief
June 9, 2020 9:54 am
in LLN'S Hot Headlines
Firefighter’s BAC Level Nearly Double Florida’s Limit — DUI Manslaughter Investigation Hindered When He Falsely Claimed  COVID-19
1.6k
SHARES
8.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare by Email
[PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of the Eaglin Family (l) / Facebook Eustis Fire Department (r)]

[Original Publish Date: 05/23/20]

EUSTIS, Florida — The former firefighter accused of killing a young woman while driving drunk was nearly twice the legal limit and claimed he had COVID-19 after the crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Michael Geoffrey Downs, 30, turned himself in at the Lake County Jail Friday afternoon after apparently being tipped off there was a warrant for his arrest for killing 23-year old Catherine Eaglin on March 19. Downs is charged with DUI manslaughter, three counts of DUI with property damage and one count of false information on a crash report for falsely claiming he was infected with COVID-19. He was released from the LCJ on $33,500 bond just 59 minutes after he was booked.

Downs, who worked for Eustis Fire Department and volunteered at Umatilla Fire Department, was off-duty at the time of the three-vehicle crash and traveling eastbound in a 2016 Dodge Ram on State Road 44 near Huff Road when he failed to stop and struck the back of a 2017 Nissan Sentra, “propelling” it into the back of a stopped dump truck. The Nissan, being driven by Eaglin, of DeLand was stopped on State Road 44, facing east, behind a 2020 dump truck being driven by William Gomes, 33, of Orlando shortly after 11:15 p.m. March 19, according to the crash report.

Eaglin, who turned 23 just six days before the crash, was pronounced dead on the scene, and was wearing a seatbelt. Downs, of Eustis, was airlifted to Central Florida Regional Medical Center and he was not wearing a seatbelt. Gomes was transported by Lake EMS to AdventHealth Waterman; he was wearing a seatbelt.

An updated crash report provided to Lake Legal News by FHP late Friday night states Downs’ BAC was .155, nearly twice Florida’s legal limit. It is unclear exactly what time the blood was drawn, but it was after Downs was transported by air to Central Florida Regional Medical Center in Sanford. Any BAC over .15 carries enhanced penalties, said FHP Lt. Kim Montes.

“FHP had to subpoena medical blood, as Cpl. [Eric] Almeyda was unable to obtain blood from Mr. Downs,” Montes said in an email to LLN. “With the challenge of not being able to obtain a blood sample that night, Cpl. Almeyda immediately subpoenaed the medical blood and completed the investigation before making an arrest.’

Downs also claimed he may have COVID-19. “When Cpl. Almeyda arrived at the hospital to interview and evaluate Mr. Downs, he was told by the nurses that Mr. Downs claimed he may have COVID-19,” Montes said in an email. “The hospital staff placed Cpl. Almeyda in full protective PPE to go in the room to talk with Mr. Downs.”

At the hospital, no routine field sobriety exercises were possible, nor was it possible for traffic homicide investigator Almeyda to get close enough to Downs to determine whether he had physical signs of impairment — such as bloodshot eyes or the odor of alcohol on his breath. “We couldn’t do anything because he was claiming COVID-19,” Montes explained to LLN in a phone interview.

Downs allegedly made the claim just 10 days after Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Florida due to COVID-19.

DUI manslaughter investigations typically take several months, Montes said. “Cpl. Almeyda worked diligently to complete this investigation in two months.”

As soon as someone is arrested the speedy trial clock starts ticking, “We don’t make an arrest to build a case,” Montes said, “We build the case to make an arrest.” 

[ Read our original Lake Legal News article here: https://www.lakelegalnews.com/article/facebook-beer-photo-vanishes-as-local-firefighter-criminally-investigated-traffic-fatality/ ]

    _______________________________

Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]

Share1614TweetSend
Previous Post

Former Firefighter For Eustis And Umatilla In And Out Of Jail In An Hour On DUI Manslaughter Charge

Next Post

Man’s Lawsuit Claims That Stress From The Actions Of Two Lake Deputies Entitle Him To Monetary Damages

Marilyn M. Aciego, LLN Editor-in-Chief

Related Posts

Tavares Man Arrested For Arson — Police Have Responded To Location 25 Times In The Past Year
LLN'S Hot Headlines

Tavares Man Arrested For Arson — Police Have Responded To Location 25 Times In The Past Year

12 months ago
1.8k
Mount Dora Man Erupts In Violence Twice Within A Week — Additional Drug Charges Pending
LLN'S Hot Headlines

Mount Dora Man Erupts In Violence Twice Within A Week — Additional Drug Charges Pending

12 months ago
2.5k
Clermont Man Tells Boy, ‘Go Get Your Father So I Can Kill Him With My Bare Hands’
LLN'S Hot Headlines

Clermont Man Tells Boy, ‘Go Get Your Father So I Can Kill Him With My Bare Hands’

12 months ago
4.1k
Man Points Gun At Juvenile’s Forehead In Sorrento To ‘Teach The Boy Respect’
LLN'S Hot Headlines

Man Points Gun At Juvenile’s Forehead In Sorrento To ‘Teach The Boy Respect’

12 months ago
2.9k
Eustis Police Find Deplorable Conditions As 11 Men And Women Jailed Following Search Warrant Near School
LLN'S Hot Headlines

Eustis Police Find Deplorable Conditions As 11 Men And Women Jailed Following Search Warrant Near School

12 months ago
9.6k
Lake Driver Reaching For Water Bottle Involved In Head-On Crash — Several Injured, 8 Hour Road Closure
LLN'S Hot Headlines

Eustis Police Looking For Information as Man, Shot Twice, Becomes City’s First Shooting Victim of 2021

1 year ago
3.6k

WhatPeople are Watching

  • VIOLENT MAN BONDS OUT TO COMMIT ONE OF LAKE’S MOST HORRIFIC RECIDIVIST ATTACKS

    VIOLENT MAN BONDS OUT TO COMMIT ONE OF LAKE’S MOST HORRIFIC RECIDIVIST ATTACKS

    2483 shares
    Share 2483 Tweet 0
  • Jacksonville Man Drives 130 Miles For Mount Dora 11-Year-Old, Sneaks In Bedroom Window For Sex Acts On Video

    133 shares
    Share 133 Tweet 0
  • Lake County Jail To Release Nearly 50 Inmates Within The Next Several Hours

    7558 shares
    Share 7558 Tweet 0
  • Mystery Abounds In Developing Story As Body Is Found In Tavares Waterway Near Palm Gardens Marina

    1929 shares
    Share 1929 Tweet 0
  • Woman Rolls Stolen Vehicle After Chasing “Baby Daddy” Through Eustis — 14 Charges Pending

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

OurMost Recent in Time

Tavares Man Arrested For Arson — Police Have Responded To Location 25 Times In The Past Year

Tavares Man Arrested For Arson — Police Have Responded To Location 25 Times In The Past Year

June 9, 2021
1.8k
Mount Dora Man Erupts In Violence Twice Within A Week — Additional Drug Charges Pending

Mount Dora Man Erupts In Violence Twice Within A Week — Additional Drug Charges Pending

June 9, 2021
2.5k
Clermont Man Tells Boy, ‘Go Get Your Father So I Can Kill Him With My Bare Hands’

Clermont Man Tells Boy, ‘Go Get Your Father So I Can Kill Him With My Bare Hands’

June 2, 2021
4.1k
Man Points Gun At Juvenile’s Forehead In Sorrento To ‘Teach The Boy Respect’

Man Points Gun At Juvenile’s Forehead In Sorrento To ‘Teach The Boy Respect’

June 2, 2021
2.9k
Eustis Police Find Deplorable Conditions As 11 Men And Women Jailed Following Search Warrant Near School

Eustis Police Find Deplorable Conditions As 11 Men And Women Jailed Following Search Warrant Near School

May 29, 2021
9.6k
Bike Ride With Eustis Police Chief A Success

Bike Ride With Eustis Police Chief A Success

June 9, 2021
466
Man With Suspended License Flees Deadly Crash Scene — Is Located In Leesburg And Jailed

Man With Suspended License Flees Deadly Crash Scene — Is Located In Leesburg And Jailed

June 8, 2021
2.4k
Driver Leaves His Lane, Kills Another Driver In Head-On Collision In Astor

Tragedy As Villages Woman’s Vehicle Strikes And Kills Unidentified Man Pushing Bicycle

June 2, 2021
1.6k
Lake Legal News

Lake Legal News

Published since 2009, Lake Legal News is a high-quality, glossy magazine blending current events with both topical and historical profiles of Lake County, Florida, attorneys, judges, police officers, elected officials, and residents. (Our website also offers breaking news and web exclusives.)

Learn how to Advertise with us here.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • An LLN Interview
  • Book Review
  • Civil & Criminal
  • From Our Archives
  • From Our Current Issue
  • Guest Author
  • Humor's Last Stand
  • LLN'S Hot Headlines
  • Odds & Ends
  • Of Interest to Lawyers
  • Of Interest to LLN
  • Our Magazine's Overflow
  • Preview Our Next Issue
  • Publisher's Personal Favorites
  • Take A Second Look:
  • Uncategorized

Take One Last Look

Bike Ride With Eustis Police Chief A Success

Bike Ride With Eustis Police Chief A Success

June 9, 2021
466
Man With Suspended License Flees Deadly Crash Scene — Is Located In Leesburg And Jailed

Man With Suspended License Flees Deadly Crash Scene — Is Located In Leesburg And Jailed

June 8, 2021
2.4k
Driver Leaves His Lane, Kills Another Driver In Head-On Collision In Astor

Tragedy As Villages Woman’s Vehicle Strikes And Kills Unidentified Man Pushing Bicycle

June 2, 2021
1.6k
  • Home
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2009-2019 James Hope D/B/A Lake Legal News, located in Tavares, Florida.
Design by Artisan Internet Marketing, located in Mount Dora, Florida.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Favorite Topics
    • An LLN Interview
    • Publisher’s Personal Favorites
    • Odds & Ends
    • Of Interest to Lawyers
    • Civil & Criminal
    • From Our Archives
    • Of Interest to LLN
    • Humor’s Last Stand
    • Guest Author
    • Book Review
  • Online Only!
  • Read Our Magazines

© 2009-2019 James Hope D/B/A Lake Legal News, located in Tavares, Florida.
Design by Artisan Internet Marketing, located in Mount Dora, Florida.