Roadblocks net several arrests

Roadblocks and saturated patrols around the city and county saw a handful of arrests and citations during the Memorial Day holiday as lawmen were out in force hoping to make the roads safer for traveling motorists. ‘The good thing was that there were no accidents involving alcohol in the city over the Memorial weekend,’ said McMinnville Police Sgt. Mark Mara following the saturated patrols, which did lead to some isolated arrests following their roadblock initiative Thursday evening. ‘We arrested a few for underage drinking and we had two drunk driving arrests including one for a 5th-offense DUI violation.’ Mara noted there were also citations issued for persons standing outside bars with open containers, something that is forbidden by city statutes. Highway Patrol Sgt. Billy Prater, whose local contingent of troopers conducted roadblocks over the weekend reported no drunk driving arrests in the roadblocks but did have one due to the roadblock. ‘No DUI’s were arrested at the checkpoints; however one DUI was arrested a short distance from a checkpoint after a motorist returned to the checkpoint and informed us of a vehicle in the ditch,’ Prater said of the unusual case. ‘Upon the troopers’ arrival, the driver was found to be under the influence and arrested. No damage was done to his vehicle when he ran off the road or when it was removed from the ditch.’ Sgt. Prater said that other than the DUI arrest, there were a handful of tickets issued, five of which were for registration law violations.