A homeless man living on the side of a Lee County road is now facing charges after deputies were dispatched to a call.
Lee County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched, on Thursday, January 12, 2023, to Lee Road 146 in reference to a complaint of male subject on the side of the road who had belongings in the roadway that the caller had accidently driven over.
Deputies noticed several personal belongings blocking an entire lane of Lee Road 146 when they arrived and that is when contact was made with the male subject to see if he was okay and ask him to remove his belongings from the area. He was stumbling and his speech was incoherent.
“The Deputy was concerned that the man may stumble into the roadway and be injured,” Lee County Sheriff’s Office stated in a post. “Deputies are familiar with the male as he has lived in the area on the side of the road for over a year.”
When asked to remove his belongings from the roadway, the male refused and continuously cursed at the Deputy. The Deputy then began to remove items from the road and place them back near the tent where the man slept. The man initially agreed to remove the items but continued to avoid doing as instructed.
The man grabbed a clear bottle in a brown bag and took a sip. It was later determined that the man was drinking Everclear liquor. The Deputies detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person.
“The man was told he was under arrest, and when deputies attempted to place him into handcuffs he pulled away and resisted arrest,” authorities added.
Deputies attempted to place him in the patrol unit for transport to jail, he continued to resist and attempted to strike Deputies. He refused to give his name to Deputies as well.
Authorities said it was later determined his name was Charles Prater. He was transported to Lee County Jail and charged with Public Intoxication, Criminal Littering, and Resisting Arrest.
The man is eligible for bond but is currently being held for his own safety due to his intoxicated condition, authorities included in the post.
