The Eureka Police Department’s first two arrests of the new year involved men suspected of driving while intoxicated. A 24-year-old Eureka man and a 28-year-old Arnold man were arrested just more than 30 minutes apart in separate incidents, police reported.
The Eureka man, who was driving a 2005 Toyota Sequoia, was stopped by an officer at about 2 a.m. Jan. 1 on Hwy. 109 near Augustine Road. He allegedly was driving about 59 mph in a 45-mph zone, the report said.
The man appeared intoxicated and after initially telling the officer he had not been drinking, he later said he had. The man allegedly failed field sobriety tests and was arrested, according to the report.
At the Police Station, the man reportedly registered a .136 percent blood-alcohol content, the report said. In Missouri, .08 percent is the legal limit.
He was booked and released with summonses to appear in Eureka Municipal Court for speeding and DWI, Lt. Michael Werges said.
At about 2:35 a.m. Jan. 1, Eureka Police got a report that someone was driving a 2008 Lexus GS-350 erratically on eastbound I-44 as it approached the city limits. Officers responded and spotted the car traveling about 40 mph in front of a tractor-trailer, the report said.
The tractor-trailer’s hazard lights were on, and the officers allegedly saw the driver swerve out of his lane twice, nearly hitting the tractor-trailer both times. The driver was stopped, and the Arnold man driving the Lexus appeared intoxicated and confused, according to the report.
He allegedly told officers he was traveling from Jefferson City and had consumed a beer. While the officers were talking with the man outside his car, the suspect turned around and put his hands behind his back. The officer asked the man if he thought he was under arrest and he shrugged, the report said.
He allegedly failed field sobriety tests and registered a .207 percent blood-alcohol content.
The man was arrested and taken to the Eureka Police Station. He was released with summonses to appear in Eureka Municipal Court for careless and imprudent driving and DWI, Werges said.