Merrillville Teacher Arrested For OWI Wednesday On Lunch
On Wednesday 09/01/2021 at approximately 11:54 AM a Merrillville Police Officer was dispatched to the area of 57th Avenue & Chase Street in reference to an accident, according to Assistant Chief Kosta Nuses.
Upon arrival, the officer observed a four door vehicle in the woods just west, in the 5800 Block of Nicholson Road. The officer made contact with the driver who self identified as a Merrillville school teacher returning back to class after lunch, Nuses told RNS.
While speaking with the driver, the officer noticed that the driver had slurred speech and appeared to be under the influence of narcotics or alcohol. The officer subsequently smelled an odor emanating from the driver’s person that is commonly associated with alcoholic beverages. The driver participated in a field sobriety test and submitted to a certified breath test. The certified breath test produced a sample of .199 BAC at approximately 1:00 PM, according to Nuses.
The driver was taken into custody and charged with Operating While Intoxicated. While charges are waiting to be accepted through the Prosecutors Office the identity is being withheld. The Merrillville School Corporation is conducting it’s own investigation. They were not immediately available for comment.
