Staff Reports
Columbus police officers arrested two men suspected of operating a vehicle while intoxicated approximately 90 minutes apart over the weekend.
Shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday night, CPD officers were dispatched to the area of 25th Street near Eastbrook Plaza in regards to a vehicle that had struck a curb and was traveling erratically, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
CPD officers located and stopped the vehicle driven by Shawn E. Holwadel, 51, of 1203 Pearl St., a short time later. While speaking with Holwadel, the officers noted that his speech was slurred and he had difficulty maintaining his balance. After failing multiple field sobriety tests, Holwadel was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw, Harris said.
At the conclusion of the blood draw, Holwadel was placed under arrest and remanded to the Bartholomew County Jail on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a previous conviction (Level 6 Felony). He was later released from jail under the probation department’s program allowing qualifying defendants to not have to post bail.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, CPD officers responded to an accident with minor injuries near 25th Street and Taylor Road.
Officers noted that one of the drivers involved in the crash, Jason M. Berry, 45, of 3043 Fox Pointe Drive, had slurred speech and poor balance, Harris said. Berry failed multiple field sobriety exercises and later provided a certified breath sample at the Columbus Police Department of .174% (over twice the legal limit), Harris said.
Berry was placed under arrest and remanded to the Bartholomew County Jail on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He was later released from jail under the probation department’s program allowing qualifying defendants to not have to post bail.
