By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
WEATHERSFIELD, Vt. — A 21-year-old Springfield man is facing multiple charges for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol, after a concerned resident called police about a drunk driver who had driven his car into a ditch.
Isaac Rose, 21, was arrested on March 7 and faces charges of DUI and vehicle operation-careless or negligent. The DUI charge has a possible penalty of up to two years in prison and/or fined up to $750, and the second charge has a maximum penalty of one year in prison and/or $1,000 fine.
At about 6:37 p.m. Officer Joshua Callahan was dispatched to the area of 2195 Reservoir Road in Weathersfield, on the line of Springfield, according to an affidavit provided by the Vermont Superior Court – Windsor County.
A concerned citizen called the police to report a vehicle stuck in the ditch, and that the driver of the vehicle was intoxicated, smelt of alcohol and was stumbling around. When Callahan arrived, he observed a 2004 black Ford F-250 that had driven off of the road and gotten stuck in a culvert filled with snow. He did not see that any medical attention was needed at the scene.
Callahan saw a man sitting in the driver’s seat of the truck, which was still running. When he approached the passenger side of the vehicle and knocked on the window, Rose allegedly tried to open it by pressing all the buttons on the driver’s side armrest instrument panel. He heard the door unlock and was able to open the passenger door.
“While standing in the doorway, I could smell a strong odor of intoxicants inside the vehicle,” Callahan said in the affidavit.
Callahan asked Rose if he had drank alcohol that day, and Rose allegedly looked at him and said in a slurred voice, “a few.”
“While speaking with him, I could see that his eyes were watery and bloodshot,” Callahan stated in the affidavit. “Based on my training and experience, I know these are indicators of impairment.”
Callahan was able to identify Rose from other law enforcement encounters, as well. Rose proceeded to turn off the vehicle and exit by crawling from the driver’s side seat, across the center console, and into the passenger side door. While he stood outside the vehicle, Callahan said Rose was swaying like he was trying to keep his balance.
As Rose was explaining what had happened, observed his speech to be very slurred, and I was able to smell strong odor of alcohol emanating from his person,” Callahan stated.
He asked if he had any drinks before driving and Rose told Callahan that he had a few beers at a friend’s house. Rose refused field sobriety tests, breath tests and blood tests and was taken into custody. When searched, Callahan found a Bud Light bottle cap in his pocket. Officers also found a bottle of Bud Light on the floor behind the passenger seat.
Rose was arranged at the Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division, Windsor Unit on March 18.
