COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Police Department (CPD) arrested four people on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated in a 3.5-hour span over the weekend.
On Saturday at about 10:30 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle near 5th and Lindsey Streets after they say they saw the driver, Karl I. Lutes, 63, of Covington, Indiana, strike a curb. He allegedly failed several field sobriety tests and was then given a certified breath test which provided a breath sample of .143%. Lutes was taken into custody for Operating a motor vehicle While Intoxicated (OWI).
At 12:55 a.m. on Sunday, CPD initiated a traffic stop on a speeding car on Central Avenue near 25th Street. The driver, Magnolia B. Cruz, 39, of Scipio, appeared to be disoriented. She supposedly failed several field sobriety tests and provided a breath sample of .173%. Cruz was charged with OWI.
Officers pulled over another speeding vehicle near 5th and Brown Streets about two minutes later and made contact with the driver, Gabriel F. Irizarry, 28, of Columbus. They observed open containers of alcohol in the car and noted that Irizarry’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy. He allegedly failed several field sobriety tests and was transported to Columbus Regional Health (CRH) for a blood draw. He was then placed under arrest for OWI and driving while suspended.
Finally, at 2 a.m. on Sunday, CPD stopped a car for an equipment violation near State and Cherry Streets. Officers say they smelled the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage while speaking with the driver, Gerson S. Alvarado, 29, of Columbus. He supposedly failed several field sobriety tests and was taken to CRH for a blood draw. Alvarado was then charged with OWI, operating a vehicle while never receiving a license and a Bartholomew County Warrant.
