Three caught at McDonalds on alcohol charges

When Oxford police officers get a call from McDonald’s staff members about intoxicated drivers, it usually proves to be a legitimate offense. Two such calls came in a little more than 24 hours apart last weekend and both resulted in drivers being cited for operating a vehicle intoxicated. In addition, an officer at the drive-through was tipped off to a passenger with an open container two days later and that resulted in several charges.

Police were called at 1:48 a.m. March 15 on a report of improper driving in which a 48-year-old man nearly struck the building while in the drive-through line. Officers found him parked near the exit, but he did not respond to several attempts to get him to roll down his window. When he finally did so, they noticed an odor of an alcoholic beverage. He refused, at first, to produce his driver’s license and then refused to get out of his car. Officers removed him from the car and took him to the police station.

He refused to submit to the breathalyzer test and was cited for OVI and obstructing official business and taken to the Butler County Jail.

The following morning, 2:49 a,n, on March 16, police were again called to McDonald’s on a report of a woman intoxicated and operating a vehicle in the drive-through. Police found the 28-year-old woman and reported her speech was slurred. She agreed to the field sobriety tests and the report indicated officers felt her performance warranted a charge of operating a vehicle intoxicated.

She refused to do the breathalyzer test, however and cited for OVI.

An officer in line at the drive-through at 2:19 a.m. March 18 was told by a store employee over the order intercom that a front-seat passenger in a car ahead had an open container. The officer parked the cruiser and investigated, finding a 19-year-old Miami student with an open can of beer between his legs while seated in the car.

Two fictitious operator’s licenses in his name were also found in the vicinity of the front passenger seat.

He was cited for possession of an open container, sales to and use by underage persons and certain acts prohibited.

Theft of BB pistol reported at Walmart

Report of a theft in progress brought a police officer to the Oxford Walmart store March 13 at 5:19 p.m. Store employees told the officer that a man had cut the plastic case of a BB pistol away from the display where it was secured and concealed the item. In another part of the store, they watched as he used a knife to cut the plastic case open and remove the pistol.

The 21-year-old man was confronted by the officer at the checkout after paying for a small purchase. The pistol was not found in the man’s possession and a search of the store failed to turn up the weapon, although the packaging was found.

The man refused to reveal the location of the pistol and was cited for theft, a first-degree misdemeanor, and criminal mischief, a third-degree misdemeanor.

Break-in reported at old Walmart store

An Oxford police officer on patrol discovered broken glass in a rear door of an auto service bay at the former Walmart location on South Locust Street.

A large portion of the glass was missing and it appeared someone had broken the glass and reached in to open the door. No apparent theft was found in the vacant building and no obvious signs of mischief or damage inside. Walmart was notified and later boarded up the property.