Creston Police: Driver found asleep behind the steering wheel after truck hits motel sign

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Tanner J. Richardson, 18, of Tingley, was taken into custody 11:45 p.m. Aug. 1, at Devoe and Spruce streets on the charge of driving while license is denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked.

According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 11:41 p.m. Richardson was observed driving a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado on Spruce Street. Richardson does not have a valid driver’s license.

Richardson was cited and released at the scene on a summons to appear.

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Christina M. McDonald, 38, of Creston, was taken into custody 1:10 a.m. Aug. 2, at Montgomery and Spruce streets on the charge of driving while license is denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked.

According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 1:06 a.m. McDonald was observed driving a 2018 Kia Sorrento on Montgomery Street. McDonald does not have a valid driver’s license.

McDonald was cited and released at the scene on a summons to appear.

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Alex S. Cole, 33, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was taken into custody 3:38 a.m. Aug. 2, in the 900 block of South Sumner Street on the charges of OWI, first offense and carrying weapon while intoxicated.

According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 3:19 a.m. a one-vehicle accident was reported at Quality Inn. When officers arrived, they observed a 2023 GMC Sierra stopped with the front tires in the grass and rear tires on the pavement. The truck had driven over the curb and struck the “registration” sign for the hotel, which stopped it from going any further.

A male, later identified as Cole, was observed asleep behind the steering wheel. Officers knocked on the truck window several times before Cole woke up and was able to speak with them. The truck was still in drive and an open bottle of beer was observed in the cup holder next to Cole.

While speaking with Cole, the strong odor of a consumed alcoholic beverage was detected coming from his breath. He was observed to have bloodshot, watery eyes and mumbled, slurred speech. When asked if he knew where he was, Cole told officers he was in southern Illinois. Cole made statements about drinking alcohol at a local bar and at Green Valley State Park.

Cole consented to field sobriety testing and showed numerous validated clues of impairment. Cole refused to submit to a PBT. Cole later refused to provide a sample of his breath for chemical testing.

During the investigation, Cole told officers he had a loaded handgun in the center console of the truck. Officers retrieved the firearm and five open containers from the vehicle.

Cole was transported to the Adams County Jail where he was released from on his own recognizance on a promise to appear.

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Maria S. Pantoja, 35, of Afton was taken into custody 3:48 a.m. Aug. 2 in the 800 block of Laurel Street on the charges of interference with official acts and public intoxication.

According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 3:28 a.m. Supertel Inn reported a female on the property who did not have a room there and was having difficulty walking.

Officers made contact with the female, later identified as Pantoja, outside of the building in the southwest corner. Pantoja was observed to have slurred speech, bloodshot, watery eyes and the odor of a consumed alcoholic beverage coming from her person. She told officers she did not have anything to drink but refused to take a PBT when offered multiple times.

When officers attempted to place Pantoja in handcuffs, she resisted and refused to place her arms behind her back. While walking to the patrol unit, Pantoja continued to pull away and yell at officers. She had to be forced into the patrol unit after she refused to get in or move her feet. She was identified after being taken into custody by a credit card located in her purse.

Pantoja was transported to the Union County Jail where she was released from after posting $600 cash or surety bond.

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Russell E. Orr, 46, of Creston, was taken into custody 2:55 a.m. Aug. 3, at Lucas and Vine streets on the charge of OWI, first offense.

According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 2:58 a.m. Orr, who was a suspect in a harassment case, was located on Lucas Street in the driver’s seat of a running truck. Witnesses said Orr and other occupants in the truck were intoxicated and driving. Orr admitted to consuming alcohol and the odor of an alcoholic beverage was detected coming from his person. Orr had slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes.

He refused field sobriety testing and PBT.

Orr provided a breath specimen for chemical testing after being transported to the Union County Law Enforcement Center. The test result indicated his BAC to be .136%.

Orr was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting $1,000 cash or surety bond.

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Angel J. Davis, 43, of Creston, was taken into custody 4:15 a.m., Aug. 3, at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on the charge of public intoxication.

According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 2:58 a.m. officers made contact with Davis at the law enforcement center after having earlier contact with her during which she was highly intoxicated. During the earlier call, Davis was given a ride home by officers after telling them she was walking due to getting into a verbal argument with her ex-husband.

Officers were called back to a residence on Fremont Street later in the night, where Davis and her ex-husband had reportedly returned to and were in the front yard of. The pair were transported to the law center where Davis yelled at dispatchers, officers and her ex-husband. She also slipped out of shackles she had been placed in after being warned not to.

Davis was transported to the Union County Jail where she was released from after posting $300 cash or surety bond.

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Michael E. Walker, 52, of Creston, was taken into custody 9:21 p.m. Aug. 3, in the 200 block of East Montgomery Street on the charges of disorderly conduct - loud raucous noise and public intoxication.

According to a Creston Police report, at 9:10 p.m. loud noise sounding like a pending fight was reported behind The Pub. Officers observed a male, later identified as Walker, walking away from the area and a group of people by the back fence.

While speaking to those in the group, officers were told Walker was trying to start fights with people for no reason. A bar employee stated that Walker had been asked to leave the bar which he did, but then came back, continued causing issues and was told to leave again.

While speaking with Walker, he was observed to be very hostile toward officers and appeared intoxicated. After being transported to the law center, Walker refused a PBT.

While being booked into jail, Walker caused problems during the process and was hostile toward jail staff and made vague threats toward detention officers.

Walker was released from the Union County Jail after he appeared in court and pled guilty to the charges.