Published: August 23, 2009 09:42 pm      

Nine arrested in weekend patrols

PERU — On Friday and Saturday night, Indiana state troopers working from the Peru Post conducted saturation patrols targeting impaired drivers.

Efforts of those officers removed eight allegedly impaired drivers from roadways in the district, which covers Cass, Fulton, Miami, Howard, Tipton, and Wabash counties.

Troopers also arrested a Michigan man on an arrest warrant alleging felony charges of dealing cocaine and marijuana. Christopher Smith, 18, Peru, was allegedly found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Officers from the state police, the Howard County Sheriff’s Department and the Kokomo Police Department conducted a sobriety checkpoint from 11 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Washington and North streets in Kokomo. During the checkpoint, officers had contact with 226 vehicles. No impaired drivers were detected. Officers issued six traffic citations for various violations.

“A majority of the 226 vehicles that came through the checkpoint contained passengers,” stated Indiana State Police Sgt. Brent Ingram in a news release. “We anticipate that they will let others know that law enforcement was actively searching for impaired drivers. This helps our main goal of urging people who have consumed alcohol to seek sober modes of transportation and not operate vehicles while intoxicated on Indiana roads.”

Area residents are urged to report intoxicated drivers by calling 911. Give a vehicle description and direction of travel. Never follow a suspected impaired driver.



Those arrested

• Scott A. Anderson, 49, Kokomo — operating a vehicle while intoxicated

• Craig Miller, 44, Kokomo — operating a vehicle while intoxicated

• Christopher Smith, 18, Peru — operating a vehicle while intoxicated, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia

• Renetta Green, 27, Kokomo — operating a vehicle while intoxicated

• Tori Kizer 36, Kokomo — operating a vehicle while intoxicated

• Jeremy Wheaton, 29, Cassopolis, Mich. — arrest warrant for dealing cocaine and marijuana

• Mark Cass, 52, Kokomo — operating a vehicle while intoxicated

• Heather Albaugh, 25, Kokomo — operating a vehicle while intoxicated

• Rayshawna Swalley, 22, Rockford, Mich. — operating a vehicle while intoxicated

Source: Indiana State Police