Two impaired driving arrests were recorded over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend by officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department.
Grant Westerman, 25, of Bellefontaine, was arrested for drunk driving following a traffic stop that occurred around 2:30 a.m., Sunday, March 17, near the intersection of Lake Avenue and Main Street. Officers on patrol initially observed a vehicle driven by Westerman along the 300 block of south Detroit St.
The defendant reportedly was weaving in and out of his lane of travel and officers began to follow the vehicle. A series of marked lanes violations were reported including crossing over the double-yellow median. Upon making contact with Westerman, some signs of alcohol impairment were observed including the odor of alcoholic beverage and slurred speech.
Field sobriety tests were administered, but were not successful. The defendant was arrested and transported to the police station. A breath tests was administered and measured a .192 blood-alcohol content.
Westerman was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and for the traffic violations and was released to a sober driver.
• Kevin Smith, 34, of Bellefontaine, was charged with OVI, marked lanes violations and improper use of a firearm following a 2:13 a.m. traffic stop executed Sunday, March 17, in the area of north Madriver Street near east Sandusky Avenue.
Officers on patrol observed a vehicle driven by the defendant commit several violations of marked lanes while traveling in the area of south Main Street near Auburn Avenue. The vehicle was also speeding, officers report, traveling 50 mph in a posted 25 mph zone.
Upon making contact with Smith following the stop, he reportedly was heavily impaired and several open containers of alcohol were observed inside the vehicle.
Field sobriety tests were not successful and the defendant was transported to the police department and agreed to a breath test, which measured a .263 blood-alcohol level.
His vehicle was searched due to the open containers and officers also located a loaded handgun inside the car.
He was charged with OVI, having weapons under disability, as well as for the traffic violations and was lodged in the Logan County Jail.