On Saturday, March 19th, around 4:44 in the afternoon Marshall County Central Dispatch received a 911 call advising a vehicle was unable to maintain lane control and kept speeding up and slowing down in the area of U.S. 30 and Union Road. The caller described the vehicle and gave a plate on the vehicle to assist officers in locating the vehicle.
Deputies with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department located the vehicle at the Pilot Truck Stop in Plymouth. Officer Ayala made contact with the driver, later identified as twenty-five year old Louis L.J. Banks Jr. of Fort Wayne. A young juvenile was also located in the vehicle and was released to a family member later.
Banks Jr. was checked through Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. He had refused a chemical test after field sobriety and a search warrant was applied for and granted by Judge Matthew Sarber of Marshall County Superior Court III. After the chemical test, it was found that Banks was three times the legal limit. He was transported to Marshall County Jail where he was booked and lodged for: Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated .15% or higher, Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated-Endangerment, Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated-Refusal, Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated-Prior Conviction, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Knowingly or Intentionally operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license. He was held on a $1,500 cash bond.
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.
