Plymouth Police make three OWI arrests over the weekend, including two with high BACs

The Plymouth Police Department had a busy weekend responding to reports of impaired drivers, resulting in three separate arrests for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) between Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening. Two of the incidents involved drivers with blood alcohol concentrations nearly twice the legal limit or higher.

The first incident occurred on Saturday, April 25th, at approximately 3:30 p.m. Officer Fisher was dispatched to the area of 116 S. Walnut Street after a 911 caller reported that a vehicle had crashed into the Habitat Restore. Upon arrival, officers located the vehicle in a nearby alleyway, where it had struck a telephone pole.

The driver was identified as 21-year-old Anner Duarte-Amador of West Washington Street in Plymouth. During the investigation, officers determined Duarte-Amador had been drinking and had never obtained a driver's license. Following a field sobriety test and a certified blood draw, his blood alcohol content (BAC) was recorded at .158. After receiving jail clearance at a local hospital, Duarte-Amador was booked into the Marshall County Jail for OWI, OWI with a BAC of .15 or higher, OWI Endangerment, and operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license.

Early Sunday morning, April 26th, a second arrest was made at approximately 2:15 a.m. Officer Witkowski initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling northbound on North Michigan Street from Jefferson Street. The officer observed the vehicle pull out in front of a semi-truck, swerving, and failing to maintain its lane. The driver, 34-year-old Omar Jose Longart Rondon of West Harrison Street in Plymouth, was found to be intoxicated. He was taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail on preliminary OWI charges.

The weekend's third OWI arrest unfolded on Sunday evening at about 8:10 p.m. Officers were called to Martin's Supermarket on Jefferson Street regarding a black Jeep Wrangler driving recklessly through the parking lot. A concerned citizen followed the vehicle as it traveled north on Columbus Drive and west on Baker Street, reporting that the Jeep was swerving all over the roadway and running stop signs.

Officer Fisher located the vehicle just before Michigan Street, observed the erratic driving, and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was identified as 30-year-old Joseph Nifong of 8^th Road in Plymouth. The officer detected a strong odor of alcohol and administered field sobriety tests. Nifong agreed to a certified blood draw, which revealed a BAC of .237—nearly three times the legal limit. Nifong was transported to the Marshall County Jail and booked for OWI, OWI with a BAC above .15, and OWI Endangerment.

Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is a mere 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.