Two men were arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after they were stopped by Columbus police officers just minutes apart on Saturday morning.
At approximately 3:15 a.m., CPD officers stopped a vehicle near Third Street and California Street driven by Christian F. Wade, 27, of Edinburgh, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department.
Officers noted that Wade’s speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. After administering several field sobriety tests to Wade, he was given a portable breath test and provided a breath sample of .204%, Harris said.
While the officers were conducting the DUI investigation with Wade, one of their patrol vehicles was nearly struck by a truck driven by James R. Wilkinson, 43, of Columbus, Harris said.
Officers stopped Wilkinson’s vehicle a short time later and when they spoke with him, they detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and noted that his speech was slurred. After failing multiple field sobriety tests, Wilkinson refused to take a chemical breath test. Officers transported Wilkinson to Columbus Regional Hospital and applied for and later received a search warrant for a blood draw, Harris said.
Both Wade and Wilkinson were placed under arrest and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where they were held on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, Harris said.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
