On Saturday, October 3rd at approximately 1:00 A.M. Marshall County Sheriff`s Department deputies responded to a report of a possibly impaired or reckless driver westbound on US 30 in the area of SR 331. The vehicle had reportedly been seen driving in the median and driving in a field before returning to the roadway. Officer Bennett with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department located the vehicle and a traffic stop was initiated in the area of US 30 and US 31. The driver, identified as 57-year-old Willis Mathews of Westfield, was found to be under the influence of alcohol with open alcoholic containers in the vehicle. Mathews was taken into custody and transported to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for a certified chemical test that revealed Mr. Mathews to be well over three times the legal limit of alcohol. He was booked in the Marshall County Jail and held on the charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Endangering and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with an ACE of .15 or more with bond set at 1,505.
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.
