Columbus police and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies arrested three drivers in separate incidents over the weekend, all on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Accident cuts power
Columbus police arrested a Hope man at 8 p.m. Friday after he was accused of crashing his Chevy Silverado truck into a utility pole in the 4800 block of Sawin Drive, damaging a power-transmission line. When officers arrived, they found Mark H. Forster, 66, in the truck, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman. Forster told officers he had consumed five or six beers and was heading home when the accident happened, Harris said.
The accident contributed to a power outage for 1,900 residents in northeastern Bartholomew County that lasted about 45 minutes.
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Forster failed sobriety tests administered at the scene and later provided a breath test registering at .165 percent, more than twice the legal limit, Harris said. He was arrested on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle with a breath alcohol content of .15 percent or greater, Harris said. He was released from the Bartholomew County Jail after posting $5,000 bond, jail officials said.
Driver passed out
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputy Nate Nichols was sent to County Road 450S and Jonesville Road at 11:22 p.m. Friday about a vehicle stopped at the intersection. When he arrived, Nichols found the driver, Jared McCracken, 27, of Indianapolis, passed out behind the wheel with the vehicle still in gear, deputies said.
After several attempts to wake McCracken, he looked up but ignored commands to open the door, instead driving away, deputies said. After a short pursuit, McCracken pulled over. He was arrested on preliminary charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated – endangerment and resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, deputies said. He has been released from the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $7,500 bond.
Asleep at the wheel
At 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Columbus police arrested a Nashville, Indiana, man who was found asleep behind the wheel at a major intersection in Columbus.
Sgt. Courtney Plummer was sent to U.S. 31 and Central Avenue about the unresponsive driver, police said. When Plummer arrived, she had difficulty waking the driver, identified as Jesse L. Harris, 24, police said. Harris’ vehicle was still in gear and began to roll into the intersection, eventually stopping, police said.
The driver later provided a breath sample of .085 percent and he was arrested on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, police said. He was released from the Bartholomew County Jail after posting $2,500 bond, jail officials said.
