Plymouth Police officers arrested two drivers on suspended license charges Tuesday, June 9th — one a straightforward traffic stop, the other escalating into a felony OWI arrest after an officer discovered open containers, marijuana, and a breath test reading more than twice the legal limit.
At noon on Tuesday, Patrolman Thornton with the Plymouth Police Department initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Michigan Street and Madison Street. The driver, Samantha Jo McConnell, 36, of Lake Shore Drive in Culver, was found to be operating the vehicle with a suspended license. McConnell was taken into custody, transported to the Marshall County Jail, and booked in for driving while suspended with a prior conviction.
Tuesday at 6:05 p.m., Officer Fisher with the Plymouth Police Department conducted a traffic stop on the U.S. 31 ramp north from U.S. 30 after records showed the vehicle's owner had a suspended license with a prior conviction.
The driver, 62-year-old Marcelino Pallanti of South Bend, smelled of alcohol when the officer approached the vehicle. The officer also observed open containers inside the car. Pallanti admitted to having been drinking.
During a search of his person, the officer found a marijuana pipe in Pallanti's pocket. Pallanti also admitted to having marijuana in the vehicle.
Field sobriety testing was conducted, and Pallanti failed. A portable breath test returned a reading of .180 — more than twice the legal limit of .08. Pallanti was placed under arrest for OWI and given a certified breath test, with results still pending.
A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up several open containers, THC gummies, and marijuana.
Pallanti was transported to the Marshall County Jail and booked on charges of felony OWI with a prior conviction, OWI, OWI endangerment, driving while suspended with a prior conviction, no insurance with a prior conviction, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia. He was held on a $1,500 cash bond.
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.
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