Full Notification

New Castle – A driver who was stopped under suspicion of operating while intoxicated last evening couldn’t give the officer an Indiana Operator License, but was able to show the officer his old Henry County Jail Inmate I.D. card when asked for identification. About 9:30 p.m. last night Trooper Thomas Ratliff was driving through New Castle, north bound on 18^th St., when a car turned from “B” Ave. onto north bound 18^th St. driving left of center nearly hitting a south bound car.
 
The car continued north then turned eastbound and Ratliff was able to get it stopped at 19^th St. and Grand Ave.  After making contact with the driver Reynaldo Luna, age 30 of New Castle, Ratliff could smell the strong odor of alcoholic beverage. When Trooper Ratliff asked Luna for his license, Luna was unable to find one, but did give the officer his old Henry County Jail Inmate I.D. card for identification.
 
Further investigation revealed that Luna didn’t have a license because his was suspended, and that he had a B.A.C. of more than twice the legal limit of .08% B.A.C. Luna was lodged in the Henry County Jail charged with Operating While Intoxicated Endangering, with a Prior Conviction, Level 6 Felony and Operating While Intoxicated with a B.A.C. over .15% with a Prior Conviction, Level 6 Felony. He was also issued traffic tickets for Left of Center, Open Container Violation and Driving While Suspended.
 
One of Reynaldo Luna’s passengers, Marcos Luna, age 48 also of New Castle, was found to be wanted on two Henry County misdemeanor warrants. Marcos Luna was lodged in the Henry County Jail on misdemeanor warrants for Failure to Appear for Possession of Marijuana and False Informing. Trooper Ratliff was assisted at the scene by Sergeant Hedges and Officer Sealover of the New Castle Police Department.
 
From March 3 through March 26, 2017, officers across the state will conduct high-visibility patrols specifically designated to identify and intercept those driving aggressively and under the influence. Operation Pull Over, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” allows increased enforcement during March and is a statewide effort supported by federal funding allocated to the state police from the Traffic Safety Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
 
According to ICJI, in March 2016 there were 495 alcohol-related crashes across Indiana, resulting in 231 injuries and 11 fatalities. Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1. Give a vehicle description, location, and direction of travel. Never follow an impaired driver.