Wrong Way Driver Leads to Four Arrests on 14 Charges
Peru - Sunday morning, a traffic stop by Indiana State Police Trooper Ben Reason led to the arrests of four Miami County teens on a total of 14 criminal charges.
Sunday at approximately 12:18 a.m., Trooper Ben Reason was on routine patrol traveling northbound on U.S. 31, near Miami County Road 400 North. Reason observed a white four door car traveling towards him, southbound, in the northbound lanes of U.S. 31. Reason was able to get the wrong way vehicle stopped before it caused a crash with oncoming traffic.
When Reason made contact with the vehicle’s driver, Brandon Orpurt, 18, Peru, IN, the officer allegedly smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the vehicle. Reason also purportedly smelled the odor of burnt marijuana and noticed other indicators that criminal activity might be afoot. There were three passengers in the vehicle.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Reason had Orpurt exit the vehicle. When Reason asked a passenger, Rodney Shaver, 19, Peru, IN, to exit the vehicle he became verbally abusive and refused to exit. Backup officers assisted Reason in removing Shaver from the car. As Shaver was being escorted to a police car, he became combative and purportedly spit on one of the officers. Shaver, who appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance, was eventually placed in a police car that contained a prisoner cage, and transported to the Miami County Jail. He faces a felony charge for battery by a bodily fluid. He also faces misdemeanor charges for resisting law enforcement, minor consumption of alcohol, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. There were also two teen girls, ages 16 and 17, in the car. They purportedly had consumed an alcoholic beverage. They were released to their parents. Charges for minor consuming alcohol will be forwarded to the Miami County Prosecutor’s Office.
During the investigation evidence revealed that Orpurt was allegedly over the .08 blood alcohol concentration limit in which Indiana law considers a driver intoxicated. During a subsequent search of the car that Orpurt was driving, officers allegedly found a loaded handgun, marijuana, a bottle of an alcoholic beverage, and drug paraphernalia. Orpurt was incarcerated in the Miami County Jail to face charges for possession of a handgun without a license, operating while intoxicated-endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of marijuana, and minor consumption of alcohol.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
Address/Location
Indiana State Police-Peru District 16-Peru, IN
1451 North Eel River Cemetery Road
Peru, IN 46970
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 765-473-6666
Sergeant Tony Slocum
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
800-382-0689