Middletown Police Log: Two Arrested Over Weekend on Drunk Driving Charges

The reported two arrests from the weekend of Oct.1-2, 2011.

Hit-and-Run, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of Alcohol

Jeffrey F. Cornell, 33, of 51 Flint Corn Road, Portsmouth, was arrested around 1 a.m. Sunday morning on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, a first offense and for failing to stop after a car accident.

According to the arrest report, police responded to the 600 Block of West Main Road for a minor car accident reported and upon arrival learned that the driver of the 2007 Chevy pickup truck involved in the accident allegedly fled the scene. Based on an arriving police officer's recollection of having seen Cornell walking on West Main Road just a few minutes earlier and a description of the suspect provided by the driver and passenger of the second vehicle, police were able to locate and identify Cornell in a pub less one block away. Police also traced the truck’s registration back to Cornell.

Police found Cornell drinking water in the nearby pub when they arrived and witnesses said he had been there less than 30 minutes. During questioning, police detected the smell of alcohol on Cornell and bloodshot eyes. After he allegedly denied being involved in the accident, police brought him back to the accident scene where the driver and passenger of the other vehicle positively identified him.

He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after a field sobriety test was conducted at the scene. Cornell also was cited for refusing to submit to a chemical test to measure his blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) level and for failing to render aid and report the accident to police.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Ian Daniel Kerr, 21, of 23 Shields St., Newport, was arrested around 2:13 a.m. Sunday on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, a first offense.

According to the arrest report, a police officer stopped the car Kerr was driving in Wyatt Road near Turner Road after observing a faulty tail light. During questioning, the officer detected the smell of alcohol and observed bloodshot and glassy eyes. Kerr was arrested after a field sobriety test was conducted at the scene. He also was cited for refusing to submit to a chemical test to measure his blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) and for the faulty brake light.