John M. Alexander, 52, of Columbus, was charged with inducing panic and public intoxication related to an early morning incident today along U.S. Route 33 just east of Huntsville.
Dispatchers of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls about 1:20 a.m. regarding a man wearing a red shirt who was in the roadway and was possibly was having hallucinations.
Deputies spoke with other drivers along U.S. 33 near County Road 37, who reported that the man in the roadway had nearly caused several collisions. Michael Harvey of Russells Point, told deputies that he had been driving in the area and Alexander’s actions had caused him to drive his vehicle into a ditch. His vehicle was removed from the ditch by Wren’s Towing.
Alexander approached deputies and told them he was unsure where he was. He told them he had been with his cousin riding in a van, and that she had yelled at him, so he exited the van. Deputies observed that he was unsteady and his feet and that he was speaking very rapidly.
The defendant was arrest and lodged in the Logan County Jail and also was issued a summons for a pedestrian on the freeway.
Troopers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and officers of the Russells Point Police Department also assisted at the scene.
Summons issued for criminal damaging
Roger A. Losey, 53, of 9644 County Road 153, East Liberty, was issued a summons for criminal damaging related to an incident Tuesday afternoon.
Deputies were dispatched about 3:20 p.m. to his address regarding a civil stand by requested by his estranged wife, Mary.
While en route, dispatchers advised that Mr. Losey reportedly had struck her vehicle with his pickup while in the driveway for his parents’ home, located just south of the 9644 C.R. 153 residence.
When deputies arrived, Mrs. Losey showed them the damage that allegedly was caused by her husband to the driver’s side of her vehicle. She told deputies she was not in the vehicle when Mr. Losey struck it with his pickup.
Mr. Losey told deputies that he had unintentionally struck her vehicle with his pickup after she refused to move her vehicle. He was issued the summons.
No injuries reported in C.R. 11 crash
Deputies and Bellefontaine Fire and EMS responded about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday to a crash in front of the Bellefontaine Church of Christ in Christian Union, 1669 County Road 11.
Anna L. Coulter, 48, of Huntsville was operating a car and reportedly attempted to make a westbound turn onto C.R. 11 from the church parking lot and struck a westbound sport utility vehicle operated by Matthew W. Ketcham, 41, of Belle Center. The drivers were wearing their seat belts and did not report any injuries, deputies said.
Damage was light to both vehicles. Coulter was cited for failure to yield.
• Corey L. Roby, 32, of Ridgeway, also was cited for failure to yield related to a non-injury crash about 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Deputies report he was operating a southbound pickup on State Route 292 and stopped at the intersection of State Route 47. He then pulled from the stop sign and was struck on the passenger side by a eastbound sport utility vehicle operated by Michael T. Stocksdale, 36, of Richwood.
Damage was heavy to both vehicles, which were towed from the scene. The drivers were wearing their seat belts.
• Deputies are investigating a hit-skip crash that occurred about 7:25 a.m. Wednesday on County Road 57 near U.S. Route 68.
A witness told deputies that a small red westbound car went off the right side of the road on a curve, striking a guardrail, and then left the scene. The vehicle in question would have heavy front end damage, deputies said.