Police make 4th of July DUI arrests

Beatrice police made multiple arrests for driving under the influence on the Fourth of July.

Ryan V. Drent, 32, was arrested early on July 4 for third-offense DUI after a Beatrice police officer spotted him driving a Dodge Stratus east on High Street and fail to come to a complete stop at around 2:30 a.m.

The officer followed the vehicle, and it again failed to come to a complete stop at 13th and High streets and the officer conducted a traffic stop.

Drent was identified as the driver and Gage County Court documents state the officer smelled alcohol inside the vehicle.

He allegedly told the officer he had a couple of beers, and was unable to follow the officer’s pen with his eyes during a test. A preliminary breath test revealed an alcohol level of .160. He was transported to the jail and provided another sample that indicated an alcohol level of .181. Court records show he was previously convicted of DUI in 2004 and 2009.

Drent’s bond was set at $7,500 with a 10 percent deposit. His next hearing is set for July 24.

That evening at around 8:30 p.m., an officer saw 28-year-old Harvey K. Marshall III driving at the intersection of North Sumner and West Court streets. The officer was looking for Marshall regarding another criminal investigation and followed the vehicle, contacting Marshall as he got out of the vehicle.

Court documents state the officer immediately smelled alcohol during the conversation and he consented to sobriety maneuvers.

He allegedly showed impairment on all three maneuvers and a preliminary breath test revealed an alcohol level of .149.

He was transported to the jail, and later provided a breath sample of .174. Mashall was arrested for driving under the influence with an alcohol level above .15. His bond was set at $2,500 and he’s due back in court July 24.