Bellefontaine Police made three arrests related to impaired driving Friday in separate incidents involving alcohol and marijuana, including one crash and two drivers found with open containers or drug paraphernalia.
Traffic Stop Nets Marijuana, Open Container; Kenton Man Arrested for OVI
Early Friday morning, police stopped a silver Dodge sedan for speeding and a non-functioning license plate light in the 300 block of South Main Street.
Officers reported the strong smell of burnt marijuana when they approached the vehicle.
The driver, identified as 20-year-old Gavin Manns of Kenton, admitted to smoking marijuana earlier but denied recent use.
After failing field sobriety tests, Manns was placed under arrest.
A search of the vehicle turned up a bag containing 22 pre-rolled marijuana blunts, raw marijuana, a THC vape cartridge, and an open container of alcohol on the passenger side.
He was transported to the Bellefontaine Police Department and provided a urine sample, which was sent to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Crime Lab for further analysis.
Manns was cited for OVI and released to a sober driver.
Late-Night Crash Leads to OVI, Theft, and Drug Charges for Saint Paris Woman
Around 10:30 p.m. Friday, officers responded to the McDonald’s on South Main Street after receiving reports that a vehicle had crashed and the driver was acting erratically inside the restaurant.
The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Lilith Dulen of Saint Paris, had allegedly driven her maroon Saturn into a concrete sign base before abandoning the vehicle in front of the drive-thru exit.
Officers found Dulen inside the closed and locked McDonald’s, eating food she had not purchased after reportedly entering behind the counter without permission.
She showed signs of intoxication, and after initially denying alcohol or drug use, later admitted to consuming an alcoholic beverage shortly before driving.
She then failed field sobriety tests.
Police say they found several open containers and marijuana in her vehicle.
At the Bellefontaine Police Department, she provided a breath sample showing a .134 BAC—well over the legal limit—and submitted a urine sample for further analysis.
Dulen was charged with OVI, underage consumption, possession of marijuana, open container, failure to control, and theft.
She was lodged in the Logan County Jail.
Zanesfield Man Found Asleep in Burger King Lot, Charged with OVI
Less than 90 minutes later, just before midnight, officers were dispatched to the Burger King on North Main Street after an employee reported a man asleep in a parked truck.
Officers arrived to find 58-year-old Leon Horton IV of Zanesfield slumped over the steering wheel of a blue GMC truck, which was parked improperly across spaces.
Police say Horton appeared disoriented and confused about his location, initially stating he believed he was in Delaware, Ohio.
Officers noted the odor of alcoholic beverages and saw a partially consumed bottle of vodka on the floorboard.
Though Horton initially denied drinking, he later said he had around lunchtime.
He failed multiple field sobriety tests and was arrested for OVI.
At the Bellefontaine Police Department, Horton provided breath samples measuring 0.117 and 0.118 BrAC, both above the legal limit.
He was cited for OVI and released to a sober individual at the Super 8 Motel.
