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A retired Polk County deputy was arrested after insulting workers at the McDonald's drive-thru and fleeing from law enforcement, all while having a young boy unrestrained in the front seat, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies arrested Robert Gray, 49, on Sunday evening, near Cypress Gardens Boulevard in Winter Haven.
Deputies said they got a call from a McDonald's just after 5:15 p.m., reporting that Gray had driven a Chevrolet Tahoe through the drive-thru lane twice.
The caller reportedly told deputies that Gray "appeared to be impaired, was making rude comments to them, and had several open beer cans in the vehicle." They also reported that Gray had a young, unrestrained child in the front seat, according to the sheriff's office.
In a video detailing Gray's arrest, Sheriff Grady Judd said the child was an 18-month-old boy.
“So, you have a child, you’re in the McDonald’s line, you’re ‘McDrunk’ and you’re saying really vile, nasty ‘McStatements’ to the girls,” Judd said in the video.
A deputy who was close by heard the call on his radio.
When that deputy drove to the McDonald's and tried to approach Gray on foot, Gray left the scene in his car, ran a stop sign and a red light, and sped away at "a high-rate of speed" until the deputy lost sight of the SUV, the sheriff's office said.
About two hours later, Gray's car was found abandoned at a cannabis business within a mile of his home, according to Sheriff Judd.
Deputies then went to Gray's home, where they say he initially refused to exit but ultimately surrendered and was arrested without incident.
According to officials, the child was not injured, and deputies have notified the Florida Department of Children and Families about the incident.
Gray was booked at the Polk County Sheriff's processing center, charged with fleeing the scene, negligent child abuse and reckless driving.
"We expect more of the people who used to work for us," Sheriff Judd said. "I'm embarrassed for his family, but make no mistake, you act like a 'McNut' at McDonald's and you're 'McDrunk,' saying 'McUgly' things to the girls, and putting a child's life in danger, you're going to jail...'McJail' every 'McTime.'"