Sheriff: Man with prior DUI convictions caught driving drunk with 2 kids inside car on way to Disney

DAVENPORT, Fla. — A Valrico man with prior convictions of driving under the influence was just arrested again for allegedly driving drunk, this time with two young children inside the car with him. 

It happened around 6:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 on Interstate 4 in Davenport. Polk County Sheriff’s deputies said they saw 46-year-old James Tompkins driving impaired in the eastbound emergency lane, aka the shoulder of I-4. 

When pulled over during a traffic stop, Tompkins reportedly had glassy, watery, bloodshot eyes along with slurred speech and he was swaying upon exiting his red SUV. 

The deputy who pulled him over reported smelling alcohol on him. 

Tompkins reportedly told the deputy he was taking the two kids, ages 5 and 8, from Valrico to Disney World. His excuse for driving on the shoulder because of traffic congestion. 

He also claimed he had “one bourbon mixed drink,” the sheriff’s office said. 

Deputies said he showed “multiple” signs of impairment during field sobriety tests, and he refused to take a breath alcohol content test when he was taken to the booking facility. 

The sheriff’s office said when they checked his criminal history and found two prior arrests and five separate convictions for DUI charges in Highlands and Hillsborough counties, including in June 2007 and June 2012. The 2012 conviction reportedly resulted from a DUI with serious bodily injury. 

Tompkins has been charged with DUI 3rd of a subsequent offense, refusing to submit to BAL test, DUI with children under 18 in care and two counts of negligent child abuse. 

“What a poor excuse for a man in charge of two little kids,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. “This is why my deputies are patrolling the major highways in our county every day in an effort to prevent high-speed traffic crashes and to get impaired drivers off the road. Clearly his previous arrests and convictions have not taught Tompkins a lesson, but perhaps the new felony charges of child abuse will sink in. I’m very grateful those children are okay.”