Bowling Green Police arrested a driver early this morning for reportedly driving with a blood alcohol concentration nearly three times the legal limit, with a firearm in his vehicle.
An officer pulled over Juan Hernandez, 44, of Galloway, Ohio, around 2 a.m., on East Wooster Street near State Street. The officer said Hernandez was driving in the center left turn lane and continually swerving, driving at varying speeds and occasionally engaging the brakes.
Hernandez reportedly had slurred speech, delayed responses, appeared confused, and told police he had consumed two beers about 30 minutes prior to the stop. When asked to perform a field sobriety test, Hernandez reportedly told police, “I can’t. I’m drunk.”
An officer saw a silver handgun magazine sitting on top of the center console. When asked by police, Hernandez reportedly said he had a firearm that was loaded with a round in the chamber.
During a vehicle search, officers found a box of Winchester .45 caliber full metal jacket rounds in the glove compartment, a box of hollow point .45 caliber rounds in the driver side door of the vehicle, and three 9mm rounds on the floor next to the front passenger seat. All ammunition was collected and placed into property.
A breath test at the police station reportedly showed Hernandez had a .239 blood alcohol concentration. He was arrested for OVI, failing to stay in marked lanes, and improper handling of a firearm. His driver’s license was confiscated, and he was taken to the Wood County Jail.
