Virginia man summoned for drunken driving

Bangor police arrested a Virginia man early Wednesday after he allegedly drove for several miles at speeds slower than the posted speed limit.

Officer Wade Betters reported that he first noticed the car at about 1 p.m., traveling between 18 and 23 mph in a 25 mph zone on Broadway. Betters said the car slowed almost to a stop at several flashing yellow lights then turned onto Griffin Road, where it cruised at about 35 mph in the 45 mph zone.

Betters said the car stopped at the last second at the red flashing light at the Ohio Street intersection, then moved onto Union Street, where it turned slowly, its wheels crossing partway into the oncoming lane.

Betters said he followed the slow-moving car down Godfrey Boulevard and onto Maine Avenue, where it did not slow or pull over for an oncoming ambulance with flashing lights.

Betters then stopped the car. Its driver, Daniel Smith, 37, said he was just trying to find Howard Johnson’s.

Smith’s eyes were bloodshot, and there was a smell of alcohol coming from the car, Betters said.

Betters arrested Smith and released him from the station after summoning him for operating under the influence. A breath test gave a result of 0.18 percent blood alcohol content. Betters said Smith’s Virginia records showed a conviction for driving while intoxicated in 1994.

Bangor police arrested a Garland man Tuesday night after he allegedly drove the wrong way on French Street.

Officer Steve Jordan reported that at about 11:30 p.m. he was driving on State Street when he saw a car pull onto State Street from French Street. Jordan noted that the car was traveling in the wrong direction on French Street, which is one way.

Jordan said the car then turned left onto Broadway, crossing the path of oncoming traffic that had the right of way. Jordan followed the car and pulled it over.

Jordan said the driver, David Vantol, 23, of Garland couldn’t find his wallet and told Jordan that he must have left it at a nearby club. Vantol was unsteady on his feet, Jordan said. Vantol insisted that he had only had one beer, but Jordan observed that his breath smelled of alcohol and his eyes were glassy.

Jordan said Vantol performed poorly on sobriety tests but still maintained that he’d had only one drink.

Jordan arrested Vantol and searched him. He found Vantol’s driver’s license in his pocket.

At Penobscot County Jail, Vantol refused to take a breath test. He also refused to sign a refusal form, Jordan said.

Jordan said Vantol had a condition on his license forbidding him to drive with any alcohol in his system. Vantol was charged with operating under the influence and operating without a license.

Bangor police arrested a man on a warrant Tuesday morning.

Officer Steve Pelletier reported that at about 7:30 a.m., he and Officer Paul Colley were called to an Ohio Street apartment to remove two people from the premises. Pelletier said they found the two “unwanted subjects” leaving the apartment as they arrived.

Pelletier said he recognized one of them, Shawab Jenkins, 27, of Bangor. Jenkins was wanted for failure to appear to answer a charge of assault on an emergency care provider. Jenkins was arrested and taken to Penobscot County Jail.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Isaac Kimball