Police, patrol arrest four during OVI checkpoint

Officials nabbed four people for driving under the influence Saturday during a two-hour checkpoint — a significant number in a relatively short time, they said.

Norwalk police partnered with the Ohio State Highway Patrol to stop about 375 of the 800 vehicles that passed through U.S. 250 near Lais Road between 9-11 p.m.

Lt. John Maxey of the Norwalk post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said the number of arrests is surprising because checkpoints are publicized in advance, so people who are drinking tend to avoid the area. 

“For whatever reason, we had a lot of success,” Maxey said. “I guess it shows (drunken driving) is still a problem in the state of Ohio.”

One of the drivers arrested had a blood alcohol concentration as high as .187, more than twice the legal limit.

Read more in Tuesday's Register.