Man flees from officer trying to issue DUI test

Members of the Rehoboth Beach Police Department say William Tibbitt, 54, of Ridgely, Md., was pulled over by a RBPD officer after making an illegal turn an running a red light along Rehoboth Avenue around 12:50 AM Saturday.

According to police, once Tibbitt was pulled over, the officer noticed he was showing signs of intoxication. Police say Tibbitt then was led by the officer to begin field sobriety testing in his car.

Following that, when the officer asked him to step out of the vehicle for further testing, Tibbitt reportedly refused several times. It was then, police say, that he sped away from the location of the stop, forcing the officer to to flee in the opposite direction on foot to avoid being struck.

Police say that officer returned to his car, and a brief chase ensued. Tibbitt reportedly stopped on Grove Street and surrendered to police without incident.

Officers say Tibbitt then taken into custody and transported to Beebe Medical Center for a legal blood draw to allow for future blood content analysis.

According to RBPD, Tibbitt was arrested and charged with one count of first degree Felony Reckless Endangering Creating a Substantial Risk of Death or Serious Injury, one count of Felony Resisting Arrest with Force or Violence and Intentionally Fleeing from a Police Officer, one count of driving a vehicle under the influence of a combination of alcohol and any drug, one count of failure to stop at a red light, two counts of failure to obey a traffic device, one count of driving a vehicle at an unreasonable speed, and one count of failure to have insurance identification in possession.

Tibbitt was reportedly committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution lieu of a $2604.00 secured bail.