South Bend man arrested for drunk driving after Plymouth Fire Station reports suspicious behavior

A South Bend man was arrested Tuesday night after Plymouth firefighters alerted police to a suspicious driver, leading to a traffic stop that uncovered drugs, an open container of alcohol, and a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.

Just before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26th, officers with the Plymouth Police Department were notified by Plymouth Fire Department personnel about a male driving a white car who had come to their station acting suspiciously. Officer Fisher responded to the area and located the suspected vehicle parked in a nearby public parking lot.

The vehicle soon left, traveling westbound on Lake Avenue. As Officer Fisher followed, the passenger threw an object from the window. The officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Lake Avenue and Plum Street and identified the driver as Ryan Voreis, 21, of South Bend. The report noted that Voreis was moving around considerably inside the vehicle.

The Marshall County K9 unit was called to the scene and conducted a free-air sniff of the vehicle, alerting to the presence of drugs. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up a marijuana joint, a THC vape, and an open container of vodka. Officers also detected the odor of alcohol coming from Voreis, and field sobriety testing was administered.

Voreis was offered a certified blood draw, which revealed a blood alcohol content of .216 — more than twice Indiana's legal limit of .08.

Voreis was placed under arrest, transported to the hospital for jail clearance, and subsequently booked into the Marshall County Jail on charges of operating while intoxicated, OWI above .15, OWI endangerment, and possession of marijuana.

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.