Steven T. McMillen, 39, of Bellefontaine, was charged Friday, Oct. 28, with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. He also was issued traffic citations for failure to drive in the marked lanes of the road, an improper turn at an intersection, driving onto a curb and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Shortly before 11:30 p.m., an officer of the Bellefontaine Police Department was patrolling south on Main Street and observed McMillian in a sport utility vehicle exit Donato’s Pizza, 815 S. Main. McMillen crossed the two northbound lanes and turned wide to head south, striking the curb on the west side of the roadway.
Once past a construction zone, McMillen changed lanes but crossed over the double yellow center line before drifting to the right. He drove on traveling on top of the white lane dividing markers several times. He then reportedly made improper turns from Main onto Kent Drive and from Kent on to Wright Street.
A traffic stop was conducted on Brody Drive.
Upon contact, the officer noted McMillen’s eye were bloodshot and glossy and detected an odor of alcohol when the driver spoke. His speech was slurred, the officer reported.
McMillen was instructed to exit the SUV. He agreed to field sobriety tests but refused to go on after completing the first part. He was taken into custody.
An open, cold to the touch can of beer was found in a cupholder. Six additional empty cans, some of which were cold and wet from condensation, were found behind the driver’s seat.
McMillen refused to provide a breathalyzer sample. He was released to a sober driver.
• Darrell E. Artis, 53, of Bellefontaine, was charged Saturday, Oct. 29, with OVI and issued traffic citations for no headlights and failure to drive in the marked lanes of the road.
He was stopped at 2:35 a.m. after an officer observed an eastbound pickup truck cross Main Street at Chillicothe Avenue without any headlights on. He drove over the double yellow center line and solid white lane dividers before he was stopped at Park Avenue.
The officer approached the driver’s side and noted an open can of beer in the center console cupholders. The officer reported Artis’ eye were bloodshot and glossy and his speech was slurred. There was a detectable odor of alcohol when the driver spoke.
Field sobriety tests indicated he was under the influence of alcohol. His breathalyzer sample was recorded at 0.115.
He was released to a sober driver.
• Ethan R. Sellers, 33, of Richwood, was charged Sunday, Oct. 30 with OVI and cited for an improper turn, driving onto a sidewalk and failure to reinstate driving privileges after a 12:50 a.m. traffic stop.
He was southbound in an SUV with a officer following in a cruiser. The officer observed Sellers turn wide from Main onto west Patterson Avenue, traveling across the eastbound lane and onto a sidewalk. Sellers made a second wide turn at Canby Street nearly hitting a stop sign.
The officer initiated a stop and made contact with Sellers. His eyes were bloodshot and glossy, the officer reported, and his movements were sluggish. There was a strong odor of alcohol coming from Sellers as he spoke.
He admitted to consuming “a lot” of alcohol but refused to participate in sobriety tests.
He was lodged in the Logan County Jail.
Hit-skip crashes reported
Officers are investigating a Monday, Oct. 31, crash, after which, the driver of a white Honda Pilot fled the scene.
Emily D. Carothers, 26, of Bellefontaine, told officers she was westbound in a car and stopped for a red light at Columbus Avenue and Madriver Street at 6 p.m.
The driver of the Pilot failed to stop the vehicle and it hit the rear of the car. Described as a man in his 20s or 30s, the motorist got out of the Pilot and advised Carothers to pull to the side to exchange information. She did and he drove off northbound on Madriver.
Damage was light to the car.
Anyone with information can call police at (937)599-1010.
• Kaine and Lauren K. Ransome reported Sunday, Oct. 30, that their car was struck by an white vehicle while it was parked outside their 555 Newell St. residence.
Officers found damaged parts from the Ransome car under the vehicle. There also was white paint from the other vehicle transferred onto their black sedan.
• Andrea D. Greenbaum, of Bellefontaine, reported Saturday, Oct. 29, her car was sideswiped by a maroon vehicle while parked at Walmart, 2281 S. Main St. She met with officers in the parking lot at 6:25 p.m. and told then she was in the store for about 30 minutes. She came out to find damage to the driver’s side.
Officers are hope store surveillance camera recorded the incident.
Motorist cited in crash
William H. Jervis, 71, of Rossville, Tenn., was issued a traffic citation for an improper turn after a 6:55 p.m. crash Monday, Oct. 31, at Madriver Street and Sandusky Avenue.
Officers report Jervis was driving a southbound pickup truck in the left-turn only lane and attempted to turn right onto Sandusky under a green light. The pickup struck the rear driver’s corner of a car operated by Kathy E. Gillman, 59, of Bellefontaine. Gillman was in the curb, right-turn only lane and was attempting to go westbound on Sandusky.
Damage was moderate.
Woman treated for alcohol abuse
Alyssa R. Ruble, 20, of Ridgeway, was charged Saturday, Oct. 29, with public intoxication and underaged drinking.
Officers and Bellefontaine squad personnel responded to the Beer Vault, 149 W. Columbus Ave., at 10:15 p.m. and found her outside against a wall vomiting. She reportedly had consumed alcohol prior to arriving.
She was transported to Mary Rutan Hospital for treatment.
Warrants served
Trevor L. Drummond, 29, of rural Bellefontaine, was arrested on a parole violation around 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Euclid Street and Myrtle Avenue.
Officers searched his backpack and found a THC vape pen, a hypodermic needle and a pipe with apparent methamphetamine residue. Drummond was charged with possession of drug abuse instruments and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Tina Huffman, 59, of Bellefontaine, attempted Friday, Oct. 28, to elude officers after they located her at 214 Pratt St. Apt. 9.
She reportedly answered the front door around 9:10 p.m. and told officers she would summons the suspect to the front door. Instead, she attempted to exit out the rear door.
She was found crouching behind a vehicle in the parking lot.
She was taken back to the apartment and struggled with officers as they placed her in handcuffs.
A pipe for abusing crack cocaine and a digital weight scale was found where she hid behind a vehicle.
She was charged with obstructing official business and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Edward L. Shaw, 47, of Bellefontaine: Champaign County warrant for child support; and
• Neil A. Mullen, 32, of Port Jefferson: Union County warrant for failure to appear.
Clerks recognize suspect
Megan E. Clary, 34, of Bellefontaine, was charged Sunday, Oct. 30, with theft.
Video surveillance at CVS Pharmacy, 143 E. Sandusky Ave., reportedly shows her failing to scan two bottles of shampoo, hair dye and a gallon of milk on Thursday, Oct. 27.
Store staff noted she is a frequent customer and uses the pharmacy for her prescription needs.