The SUV had the ability to move over as is required by Indiana law for emergency vehicles but failed to do so. As the SUV passed Weems could see that it was traveling on three tires, that the front passenger tire was gone and the driver was driving on the rim.
The SUV exited at Broadway and Weems was able to make a traffic stop on the SUV on Broadway southbound south of I-80/94. As he was pulling the SUV over he noticed it swerving and almost hit the curb more than once.
Upon approaching the driver, later identified as Sherry Sanchez, 46 of Portage, IN, Weems noticed that she appeared impaired. Further investigation revealed that she was and she was taken for a certified test which showed she was over three times the legal limit (.08% B.A.C.).
Sanchez had stated she didn’t know what was wrong with her car but all the lights on her dash were going off. She also stated she was a home health care nurse and was on her way to a patient in Chicago.
She was taken and incarcerated at the Lake County Jail in Crown Point. Sanchez was charged with Operating While Intoxicated, Failure to Yield to Law Enforcement Stationary (Move Over Law), and Operating on Highway with non-compliant vehicle.
Picture is of Sanchez and the 2004 Ford SUV
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.