Citizen report leads to drunk driving arrest in Elyria

Tristan Cooper (Photo courtesy of Lorain County Jail)

A 29-year-old Elyria man was arrested after police were alerted to a possible drunk driver on April 19.

Tristan Cooper is charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired, a fourth-degree felony; driving under an OVI suspension, a first-degree misdemeanor; and disobeying traffic laws, a minor misdemeanor; according to Elyria Municipal Court records.

He was previously convicted on charges of operating a motor vehicle while impaired in 2013, twice in 2014 and also in 2016, according to an Elyria police report.

Just after 1 a.m., an officer was flagged down by a citizen who reported seeing Cooper at the Shell gas station, 905 Lorain Road,

Cooper was last seen by the citizen riding a motorcycle and told the officer that Cooper “was very intoxicated and the cashier refused to sell him alcohol,” the report said.

The officer witnessed Cooper leaving the parking lot and driving east on Bell Avenue approaching Furnace Street.

He failed to stop at the red light and continued south onto Furnace Street, the report said. Cooper was observed driving on the opposite side of the roadway as he approached the stop sign at Furnace Street and West River Road.

Cooper failed to come to a complete stop at the red light, prompting the officer to conduct a traffic stop.

Cooper had red, shiny eyes and an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his mouth, the report said.

When the officer asked Cooper for his identification, he handed police his bank card, the officer noted.

Cooper admitted he was drinking at a bar before stopping at the Shell gas station and said he was on his way home to his residence, the report said.

Cooper was transported to the Lorain County Jail and released after posting $1,250 bond, according to the report and jail records.

Cooper was arraigned in court on April 19 and was scheduled to appear in court again for a preliminary hearing on April 22, records show.

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