COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus police officers arrested four people on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated in a 3.5-hour span this weekend.
On Saturday night at approximately 10:30 p.m., CPD officers stopped a vehicle near Fifth Street and Lindsey Street after they observed the driver, who was later identified as Karl I. Lutes, 63, of Covington, strike a curb, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman. After failing multiple field sobriety tests, Lutes was given a certified breath
test and provided a breath sample of .143%. Lutes was placed under arrest and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he was remanded on a preliminary charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
At approximately 12:55 a.m. on Sunday morning, CPD officers stopped a speeding vehicle on Central Avenue near 25th Street. The officers made contact with the driver of the vehicle, Magnolia B. Cruz, 39, of Scipio, who appeared to be disoriented. Cruz later failed several field sobriety tests and later provided a breath sample of .173%, Harris said. Cruz was placed under arrest and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where she was
remanded on a preliminary charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
Approximately two minutes later, at 12:57 a.m., CPD officers stopped another speeding vehicle near Fifth Street and Brown Street. The officers made contact with the driver, Gabriel F. Irizarry, 28, of Columbus. The officers observed open containers of alcohol in the vehicle and noted that Irizarry’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Irizarry failed several field sobriety tests and was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw, Harris said.
At the conclusion of the blood draw, Irizarry was placed under arrest on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and driving while suspended (with a prior conviction).
At approximately 2 a.m., CPD officers stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation near State Street and Cherry Street. The officers could smell the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage while speaking with the driver who was later identified as Gerson S. Alvarado, 29, of Columbus. Alvarado failed several field sobriety tests and was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw. At the conclusion of the blood draw, Alvarado was placed under arrest on the following preliminary charges: Operating a motor vehicle while
intoxicated, operating a vehicle while never receiving a license and for a Bartholomew County warrant.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
