COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus police officers arrested a local man for driving while intoxicated early this morning after he was seen driving through a road construction area with traffic cones stuck underneath his vehicle.
At approximately 12:56 a.m. Thursday, CPD officers responded to the area of Central Avenue and U.S. 31 in regards to a possible drunk driver, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
A construction worker was able to get the suspect stopped after seeing the construction cones being dragged by his vehicle, Harris said.
The suspect, who was later identified as Eric S. Federico, 52, of Columbus, was wearing only his underclothes when officers made contact with him, Harris said. While speaking with Federico, the officers noted that his balance was unsteady and he had the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. After failing several field sobriety tests, Federico was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw, Harris said.
He was later placed under arrest and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail on
preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and Highway Work Zone Violation (OMVUI).
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
