Matthew L. Bechtel, 40, of 11451 Township Road 97, Belle Center, 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 motor vehicle and failure to dim his vehicle’s bright lights.
Around 1 a.m., an officer southbound on Main Street near Rush Avenue observed a northbound car with brights on. A traffic stop was made in the 1200 block of north Main after the motorist passed other areas suitable to pull off the road, the officer reported.
Upon talking with the motorist, the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol. Bechtel’s speech was slurred and he exhibited poor motor skills. Field sobriety tests indicated he was impaired by alcohol and he was taken into custody.
Bechtel, who has a prior OVI conviction, refused to provide a breathalyzer sample.
The officer reported finding an open 24- ounce can of beer in the car.
• Shane Simpson, 32, of 326 E. Chillicothe Ave., was charged Tuesday with public intoxication, persistent disorderly conduct and having physical control of a motor vehicle under the OVI law. He also was cited for no operator’s license.
Around 5:10 p.m., officers were dispatched to Kroger Co., 2129 S. Main St., and found him passed out behind the wheel of his car. A witness had taken the keys from the ignition after observing the engine was running.
An officer detected a strong odor of alcohol while attempting to communicate with Simpson. An empty bottle of whiskey was found on the front passenger side along with a receipt showing it was purchased at 4:01 p.m. that day.
He was transported to the Logan County Jail.
• Randall W. Irwin, 40, of 121 Water Ave., was charged with OVI, after 1:15 a.m. traffic stop Saturday. He also was cited for operating a motor vehicle without a license endorsement, a marked lanes violation and driving in the wrong lane.
Officers observed him ride a motorcycle from 68 Bar and Grill, 1141 S. Main St., and travel over the curb rather than the drive. He traveled north to Lake Avenue and made a wide turn eastbound on Lake Avenue. He traveled across the center line several time before turning south on Michigan Street. Officers report Irwin repeatedly rode in the opposite lane.
Field sobriety test indicated he was impaired but he refused to provide a breathalyzer sample.
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