Cody Black, 35, of Kentucky, was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence Friday, Jan. 10, following a traffic stop conducted by officers of the Bellefontaine Bellefontaine Police Department.
Officers were dispatched to Iron City Sports Bar around 11 p.m. in response to a report of a possible theft. Restaurant staff reported that Black had two drinks and left without paying his tab. Witnesses described the suspect as a white male in his mid-30s, wearing a grey hat, a neon green shirt, and dark jeans, driving a dark grey Ford F-150 northbound on Main Street.
Police located a vehicle matching the description near Main Street and Sandusky Avenue and followed it as it continued north. The truck eventually pulled into the Waffle House parking lot, where officers initiated a traffic stop.
Black admitted to being at Iron City and drinking two tall Miller Lite beers. He explained that he left the bar without paying due to his truck becoming stuck in snow and requiring assistance to move. Black agreed to a series of field sobriety tests, which were conducted both outdoors and in a more controlled environment inside Burger King.
During the tests, officers observed multiple signs of impairment, including difficulty following instructions and maintaining balance. Black denied using drugs, and no weapons or illegal substances were found during a search of his vehicle.
At the Bellefontaine Police Department, Black agreed to submit to a chemical breath test. His results measured below the legal limit for intoxication, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.070 and 0.069 in two samples.
Although initially slated for transport to the Logan County Jail, Black was released after arranging for a ride to pick him up. He was issued a citation for operating a vehicle under the influence.
The restaurant declined to pursue charges for the unpaid drinks.