A motorist was charged with impaired driving early Sunday morning following a traffic stop executed by officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department in the area of 200 east Sandusky Avenue.
Amanda Sharp, 44, of Bellefontaine, was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and for marked lanes violations around 2:30 a.m., Feb. 9, after an officer observed her vehicle driving erratically near south Main Street.
Officers report that Sharp’s vehicle made a left turn northbound and crossed into the southbound lane, with all four tires veering into the opposite direction of travel. The vehicle continued to drift between lanes before stopping in front of the solid white stop bar at north Main Street and Sandusky Avenue. Officers noted that the vehicle moved forward slightly before braking suddenly and rocking back.
Sharp then proceeded eastbound onto east Sandusky Avenue, making a wide right turn that resulted in both driver’s side tires crossing the double-yellow centerline. At that point, officers activated their emergency lights, and Sharp pulled into the Marathon gas station at 200 east Sandusky Avenue. Before officers could exit their cruiser, Sharp had already opened her vehicle’s door.
Upon making contact, officers asked Sharp for her driver’s license and proof of insurance. She reportedly struggled to retrieve her license from her wallet and switched between multiple applications on her phone while attempting to locate her proof of insurance. Officers discovered that her insurance had expired in December 2024.
Officers observed several indicators of impairment, including bloodshot, glossy eyes, slurred speech and the strong odor of alcohol on her breath. Sharp repeatedly denied consuming alcohol.
Sharp agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests, during which officers noted multiple signs of impairment.
Following the tests, Sharp was placed under arrest and transported to the Bellefontaine Police Department. She was released to a sober driver. The vehicle was towed from the scene.