Pair of incidents result in arrests of drivers

PUTNAMVILLE -- A pair of weekend incidents in Putnam County resulted in the arrests of two drivers, Indiana State Police at Putnamville reported.

The latest incident occurred about 5:40 a.m. Saturday when a one-vehicle crash was reported on State Road 42 at County Road 850 East, a mile west of the Putnam-Morgan county line. Both Indiana State Police officers and Putnam County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene.

Preliminary investigation revealed a Chevrolet Cruze, driven by Crystal A. Thomas, 26, of Camby, was eastbound on SR 42 and went off the north side of the roadway into a snow bank.

Trooper Jonathan Cumbie noticed the driver reportedly smelled of alcohol and displayed classic signs of impairment. Inside the vehicle was an open bottle of alcohol, he said.

The driver was transported to the Putnam County Jail where she failed a breath test for intoxication by testing .19 percent BAC.

Thomas, 26, was lodged in the Putnam County Jail for operating a more vehicle while intoxicated (misdemeanor). She also cited for an open container violation.

Assisting Trooper Cumbie were Putnam County Deputies Tyler Turner and Dwight Simmons.

Law enforcement continuously provides education on the dangers of impaired driving, Putnamville Public Information Officer Sgt. Joe Watts pointed out.

"As an example," he said, "this driver reportedly left downtown Indianapolis attempting to drive home to Camby and was nearly 30 miles off course due to impairment."

Meanwhile, on Friday at 10:10 p.m., Trooper Cumbie radar clocked a 2014 Dodge Avenger at 91 mph in a 70-mph zone. The car was westbound on Interstate 70 near the 37-mile marker, four miles west of Cloverdale.

As Cumbie caught up to the vehicle, the driver reportedly accelerated to 98 mph, at which time Cumbie activated his emergency lighting. The black Dodge was stopped near the 32-mile marker.

During conversations with the driver, Cameron T. Farris, 19, Indianapolis, and his two passengers, Trooper Cumbie noticed a smell of suspected marijuana coming from the vehicle's interior.

A search of the vehicle subsequently yielded approximately three grams of suspected marijuana along with a partially burnt marijuana cigarette.

The driver failed roadside field sobriety tests and was taken to the Putnam County Hospital for a chemical test, where he tested positive for marijuana.

Farris was lodged in the Putnam County Jail on charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated/under the influence of a controlled substance, operating while intoxicated endangerment, reckless driving and possession of marijuana.

Farris was also ticketed for doing 98 mph in a 70-mph zone.

Passengers James J. Jackson, 18, and D'Andrea R. Bickham, 20, both of Indianapolis, were both cited and released for possession of marijuana.