Metro cops report 31 New Year's Eve DUI arrests

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January 2, 2013

Metro cops report 31 New Year's Eve DUI arrests

Mark Schlachtenhaufen The Edmond Sun The Edmond Sun Wed Jan 02, 2013, 09:19 PM CST

EDMOND — Metro-area law enforcement agencies reported a total of 31 DUI arrests in Oklahoma City during their New Year’s Eve enforcement effort.

Also, preliminary numbers from a database show no traffic fatalities in Oklahoma between 7 p.m. Dec. 31 and 7 a.m. Jan. 1, the holiday period, according to information released Wednesday by the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.

However, 11 fatalities were reported in the state between 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28 and 5:59 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2. This compares to five fatalities in the same time period a year ago.

The DUI arrests were logged between 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, and 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.

Agencies taking part in the Traffic Enforcement Across the Metro mobilization included the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office and the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission. Extra officers from those agencies patrolled city streets watching for impaired drivers. No DUI-related crashes were reported.

Edmond officers also increased their usual year-round effort related to impaired drivers. Arrested locally were:

• Nathan Willard Bryant, 44, of Edmond, was arrested Dec. 31 on a DUI complaint;

• Joseph Michael Spinuzzi, 19, of Edmond, was arrested Jan. 1 on an actual physical control complaint;

• Michael Cameron Turner, 21, of Edmond, was arrested Jan. 1 on a DUI complaint;

• Michael John Fisher, 26, of Edmond, was arrested Jan. 1 on complaints of DUI and transporting an open container of alcoholic beverage;

• Steaven Victor Sheffield, 36, of Edmond, was arrested Dec. 28 on complaints of misdemeanor DUI and transporting an open container of alcoholic beverage.

Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement officers were on the lookout in establishments that served alcohol, checking 41 locations and monitoring the sale of alcoholic beverages, according to the OHSO. ABLE officers also assisted with three public intoxication arrests.

OHP Lt. Garrett Vowell, statewide impaired driving enforcement coordinator, said the mobilization was a great success and he thanked each of the agencies that took part.

“As partners, we know the importance of working together to keep impaired drivers off our streets and highways,” Vowell said.

Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel applauded the results from the effort.

“Unfortunately several people dropped the ball during the New Year’s Eve holiday and chose to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol,” Whetsel said.

Local agencies including the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office stage impaired driver campaigns at different times throughout the year. The OCSO’s jurisdiction includes parts of the Deer Creek area.

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Metro cops report 31 New Year's Eve DUI arrests

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