St. Joseph County – Indiana State Troopers are currently working Operation Pull Over (OPO) hours in addition to their regular shift in an effort to reduce accidents and keep roadways safe. The benefits of this program were never more evident than last Wednesday night when Trooper Arthur Smith stopped a pickup truck that was speeding through the city streets of South Bend at more than 80 mph in a 30 mph zone.
Trooper Smith spotted the driver of the pickup speeding and recklessly passing other vehicles on Ironwood Dr. on the south side of South Bend. Smith clocked the truck at 81 mph as he signaled the driver to stop. The driver did not immediately pull over and continued for several blocks before coming to a stop at a liquor store in the Southland Plaza on Ireland Rd.
The 28-year-old South Bend man, Patrick Chatman Jr., was subsequently arrested for operating while intoxicated with a BAC of .15 or more and reckless driving. Chatman was also issued citations for improper passing and failure to signal a turn.
The Indiana State Police join more than 260 Indiana law enforcement agencies in an effort to crackdown on impaired drivers. The current Operation Pull Over Period “Outside the Blitz”, is a national enforcement effort supported by federal funding allocated to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Nearly 10,000 law enforcement agencies across the country participate in this annual enforcement program.
*All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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