Deputy’s diligence saves a life
A Santa Rosa Sheriff's deputy who thought she might be following a drunk driver ended up saving a man's life.
A Milton man, John Rollo, 60, was driving his truck and was called in by a citizen as a possible drunk driver.
Deputy Anna Lewis began to travel east on Highway 90 from the Sheriff’s Office and saw Rollo heading in her direction.
Reports say Rollo was going about 25 - 30 mph and drifting from one edge of the lane to the other. Rollo then drifted towards Lewis and Lewis had to swerve to the right to avoid Rollo’s vehicle. Lewis then turned around to get behind Rollo to initiate a traffic stop.
Before Lewis could get Rollo pulled over, she observed Rollo almost hit another car head-on.
Lewis got behind Rollo with her emergency lights on, but Rollo did not pull over. Lewis then activated her siren a few times; however, Rollo still did not notice her. As Rollo stopped for the light at Hwy. 87 S, Lewis let the siren wail continuously until Rollo finally pulled over. The final traffic stop was at the corner of Hwy. 90 and Hwy. 87 South in the construction area of the southbound lane.
Lewis approached Rollo and asked for his driver’s license and told Rollo the reason for the traffic stop.
Rollo had difficulty locating his driver’s license, insurance card, and registration. Lewis says she could not smell any odor of alcohol nor did she observe any obvious physical signs of intoxication.
Lewis asked Rollo to step out of the vehicle. After having Rollo perform the horizontal gaze nystagmus task, Lewis did not believe that Rollo was intoxicated. Lewis started asking Rollo medical questions which revealed that he was diabetic. Lewis started asking Rollo about the last time he ate and the last time he took his medications. Lewis then requested that EMS respond to their location to check Rollo's condition.
EMS personnel arrived on scene. They tested Rollo’s blood sugar level, and the instrument only read "high." Sheriff's officials say both paramedics told Lewis they had never seen that happen before.
Lewis had already called Rollo's wife at this point, and Rollo wanted to wait for her to get there. The paramedics stressed to Rollo the importance of riding with them to the hospital, but Rollo did not want to go with them. All emergency personnel continuously urged Rollo to go, but he kept insisting that we wait for his wife. After waiting over ten minutes for her, Lewis was finally able to convince Rollo that he needed to go with the ambulance.
Rollo is now fine and very appreciative of the sheriff’s office and deputy who helped him.