Michael W. Cox, 51, of 2666 County Road 25A, was charged Saturday with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. He also was cited for having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle and a marked lanes violation.
Shortly before 2 a.m., he was observed operating a sport utility vehicle southbound on Main Street approaching Sandusky Avenue. The SUV drifted across the double-yellow centerline. It again crossed over the centerline and nearly hit a crosswalk sign mounted along the center line at Main and Watson Way.
An officer of the Bellefontaine Police Department who was northbound observed the violations and turned around to stop the SUV. He observed two more violations after catching up to the SUV.
A traffic stop was initiated at Main and Auburn Avenue.
Cox got out of the SUV and swayed as he stood using the driver’s door for support. He was advised to sit in the driver’s seat and then allowed to stand to get his wallet out of his pants. He immediately began to sway.
The officer reports the motorist’s speech was slow and slurred and that there was an extremely strong odor of alcohol coming from him. He also observed an open container of a mixed beverage in the center console.
Cox was to unsteady to complete sobriety field test and was arrested. He refused to provide samples for chemical analysis.
The officer’s report noted Cox has prior OVI convictions from 2008, 1996, 1993 and 1987.
He was lodged in the Logan County Jail.