Timothy W. Gajka

LAUREL HILL, Fla., July 20, 2020–A Crestview man is in custody after driving under the influence with two children on board yesterday around 6:30 p.m. south of Laurel Hill.

Timothy W. Gajka, 42, was arrested for DUI, two counts of third-degree felony child neglect and a misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Multiple motorists trying to avoid a head-on collision said they were forced off State Road 85 when Gajka, heading south, repeatedly drove into the northbound lanes.

One witness using her cell phone recorded Gajka heading south and driving in the northbound lanes several times, even driving onto the grass and dirt shoulder, according to the arrest report.

The arrest report states Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputies saw a black 2010 Dodge heading south, driving into oncoming traffic, almost colliding with other vehicles.

After making a traffic stop, deputies found two small children crying loudly in the vehicle.

A consented search revealed less than 1 gram of marijuana on the front passenger seat. Gajka admitted to smoking marijuana an hour and a half before the incident.

Gajka then told deputies his reckless driving was just to scare the children because they were misbehaving.