Muhammad Abdul Qawee
•2/17/2026

A 21-year-old man was arrested early Tuesday after Florida Highway Patrol troopers said they found him asleep behind the wheel in a Taco Bell drive-thru line.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident happened around 1:40 a.m. at a Taco Bell located at 17460 Ben Hill Griffin Parkway in Lee County.
A state trooper who was in the drive-thru line reported that the black Infiniti in front of his patrol vehicle failed to move forward. After activating an air horn and then a siren with no response, the trooper exited his vehicle to check on the driver, authorities said.
Troopers identified the driver as Evan Joseph Vellano, 21, of Estero. Investigators said he was found asleep at the wheel and did not initially respond to verbal commands.
Vellano was awakened and placed under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, officials said. Authorities added that his breath-alcohol level measured approximately twice the legal limit.
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