Derek A. Solino, 26, of Russia, Ohio, was charged Friday with possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was stopped around 7:30 p.m. after an officer of the Bellefontaine Police Department observed just one working headlight on an eastbound car at Sandusky Avenue and West Street.
He admitted he was driving under suspension and that the car belonged to his girlfriend.
Officers became suspicious after he could not clearly confirm where he traveling to or from. Officers informed him he would be cited for driving under suspension and he agreed to a search of vehicle and his person.
He was instructed to stand in front of a cruiser and reached into his coat pockets with both hands. Officers then observed him try to conceal something in the rear waistband of his pants. The cruiser’s onboard camera recorded his actions, including switching a switching a baggie from his right hand to his left.
Officers found a digital scales commonly used to weigh drugs in his coat pocket and ordered him to drop whatever he had in his clenched left hand.
A small plastic baggie with cocaine was then recovered by officers.
Motorist charged with OVI
Lee C. Waara, 59, of Flint, Mich., was charged Saturday with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs after a 8:30 p.m. hit-skip crash at Belle Meadows apartments. He also was cited for leaving the scene of a crash.
He reportedly backed his car into a parked car registered to Kathleen J. Elmore, who resides in the complex, and drove off. Witnesses took photographs of the vehicle as it was driven off.
Officers first tried to located the car as they responded but were unsuccessful. Upon arrival at the complex, witnesses pointed out the driver returned and parked across the lot.
Waara was still in the car with the engine running when officers approached. He turned it off and exited the driver’s seat.
Officers report he was unsteady on his feet; used the open door to steady himself; sluggish in his movements; and barefoot in 37 degrees Fahrenheit outside temperatures.
He declined to take sobriety tests and was lodged in jail.
Read more Bellefontaine Beat News in Tuesday’s Examiner.