While working Operation Pull Over on Saturday afternoon May 30th, Marshall County Police Officer Les McFarland stopped a vehicle traveling 77 mph in a 60 mph zone. During the traffic stop, it was found that the driver, Carl Roberts, age 28, had a suspended driver license through North Carolina. Officer McFarland believed that Roberts was intoxicated / impaired. He was transported to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth for a chemical test. Roberts was then arrested for Operating While Intoxicated and booked into the Marshall County Jail. The bond for Carl Roberts is $4,505.00. The bond has been tripled since Mr. Roberts is out of State.
Impaired driving remains one of America’s deadliest problems. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2011, 32,367 people were killed nationally in motor vehicle crashes. That same year, 9,878 people were killed in crashes that involved a driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. That means every 53 minutes someone died in a crash involving an impaired driver. In Indiana, in 2011, there were a total of 188,132 crashes, 4,938 involved an alcohol impaired driver, resulting in 140 deaths. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind drivers: “The greatest way to prevent injury or death in a motor vehicle crash is to be buckled up 100 percent of the time.”
Marshall County Sheriff’s Department offers these reminders so motorists can avoid being arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics:
- Plan ahead and always designate a sober driver before consuming alcohol.
- Don’t drive a vehicle if you’ve been drinking alcohol. Call a taxi or a sober friend. A cab ride is cheaper than a D.U.I. arrest.
- Take care of your friends. Never let a friend drive while impaired. Take their keys.
- If you are hosting a party, always offer non-alcoholic beverages. Make sure all of your guests leave with a sober driver.
- Never provide alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age of 21.
Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 911. Give a vehicle description, location and direction of travel. Never follow an impaired driver.
Marshall County Sheriff’s Department is committed to traffic safety and will continue to conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the year to apprehend impaired drivers and deter others from aggressive driving along with drinking and driving.
Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.
