A Bellefontaine man was arrested early Saturday morning after police said he was driving erratically and showed signs of intoxication.
According to a police report, officers were patrolling south on South Main Street around 12:41 a.m. on March 14 when they saw a white pickup truck make an improper right turn onto Main Street and enter the far northbound lane.
The truck then jerked left and right before centering in the lane.
The officer turned around and followed the vehicle, which was stopped in the left-turn lane at South Main Street and West Chillicothe Avenue.
Police said the driver made a narrow turn onto West Chillicothe Avenue and continued driving with both driver-side tires over the double-yellow centerline through the 100 block of the street.
The driver then turned into Municipal Lot 3 without using a turn signal, where officers initiated a traffic stop.
Police identified the driver as 25-year-old Dartanian Irwin.
Officers said Irwin had slow, slurred speech and glossy eyes and struggled to answer questions.
He told police he had “probably like two beers” earlier in the evening and said he had come from near the bowling alley and was heading to the Wrock Bottom Bar.
During the stop, the officer asked Irwin to complete simple tasks, including reciting part of the alphabet and counting backward, but police said he was unable to complete them correctly. Irwin refused to perform standardized field sobriety tests.
When Irwin stepped out of the vehicle, officers reported he was unsteady on his feet, swaying, and struggling to maintain his balance.
Based on the driving behavior, the odor of alcoholic beverages, and signs of impairment, police arrested Irwin for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Irwin was taken to the Bellefontaine Police Department, where he refused to provide a breath sample.
His driver’s license was seized and suspended for one year, he was issued a citation for operating a vehicle under the influence, and given a mandatory court date.
Irwin was later released to a sober driver.
