Ferdinand Fire Department
Run to Comfort Inn
Ferdinand Fire Department was called to the Comfort Inn last Friday at 5:16 a.m. to the report of a general fire alarm. Upon arriving at the hotel, firefighters found that someone had been smoking in the bathroom in room 219, causing the smoke detector to activate. Personnel cleaned the smoke detector and reset the system. Two trucks and six personnel were on scene for approximately 20 minutes. Ferdinand Police provided assistance.
Run to Dollar General
Ferdinand Fire Department was called to a report of smoke in the Dollar General Store at 7:18 a.m. last Tuesday. Upon arriving, firefighters found no fire but a haze of smoke believed to be from a belt inside the store’s air conditioning unit. Firefighters exhausted the smoke and advised the store personnel to contact a service company to fix the unit. Three trucks and 10 firefighters were on scene for approximately 30 minutes. Ferdinand Police Department assisted.
Ferdinand Police Department
Minor accident in Arby’s parking lot
Ferdinand Police investigated a minor accident that occurred in the Arby’s parking lot last Thursday morning. According to the report, 34-year-old Kasey Vonderheide of Ferdinand was waiting in line in the restaurant’s drive-thru when her 2015 Chevrolet SUV was struck from behind by a 2008 Ford Sedan driven by 83-year-old Sara Wilmes, also of Ferdinand. Officers say Wilmes had failed to place her vehicle in park while waiting in the line, causing her Sedan to roll forward and strike Vonderheide’s vehicle. Damage was estimated to be under $100 for both vehicles, and both were able to be driven from the scene. Wilmes was faulted for the accident for following too closely.
Jasper Police Department
OWI arrest
Jasper Police officers were patrolling the area of East 9th Street late last Friday night when they noticed a Dodge Ram pickup truck failing to stop at a stop sign at the intersection. A traffic stop was conducted, during which officers determined the driver — 33-year-old Justin Michael Buechlein of Jasper — had been drinking. After an investigation, officers arrested Buechlein on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, endangering a person (class A misdemeanor) and operating a vehicle while intoxicated (class C misdemeanor).
Driver cited after collision
Rachel Lampert, 37, of Jasper, was northbound on Mill Street between Fourth and Fifth streets when, according to the report, a 2012 Dodge pulled into her path from a private parking lot and struck her 2014 Toyota. The driver of the Dodge, 74-year-old John Rudy of Dale, was issued a citation for unsafe lane movement. Neither driver was injured in the July 21, 12:16 p.m. accident. Damage to Lampert’s vehicle was estimated at $2,500, while Rudy’s vehicle sustained approximately $4,500 in damage.
Man charged with OWI, obstruction of justice
At 8:57 a.m. last Monday morning, a Jasper Police officer initiated a traffic stop on a driver for speeding. During the investigation the officer determined that the driver, 40-year-old Cesar A. Santamaria of Jasper, had been drinking. A preliminary breath test showed Santamaria’s blood alcohol content to be 0.09. According to the officer, Santamaria refused a chemical test, even after being issued a warrant for a blood draw. Santamaria was then arrested on charges of obstruction of justice, operating while intoxicated, and OWI with a prior conviction.
