Post by KC on Apr 7, 2006 21:08:01 GMT -5
04/07/2006 - Thomas Nicoloff, 36, of 3510 Ashland Ave., was charged with two DUIs in less than two hours Tuesday night, according to Lorain police.
He was stopped at 10:41 p.m. at West 21st Street and Oakdale Avenue by a Lorain police officer who saw Nicoloff run a red light and fail to use a turn signal. Nicoloff also narrowly avoided being struck by a vehicle while trying to turn from Broadway to West 21st, according to a report.
After detecting a strong odor of ''intoxicating beverage'' the officer had Nicoloff perform several field sobriety tests, according to the report.
The officer reported the man's eyes were glassy and bloodshot and his speech was slurred and slow. Nicoloff told police he did not have any alcoholic beverages that night.
Nicoloff did not submit to a Breathalyzer test and was given a courtesy ride to his home, the report said. He was charged with driving under the influence and cited for a red light violation and failure to signal a turn. Police also discovered Nicoloff's license is currently under suspension for a drunken-driving conviction on March 16, according to court documents.
But that wasn't the last the officer saw of Nicoloff that night.
The same officer later saw him driving a 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, another report said. Nicoloff was clocked by the officer driving 62 mph on Leavitt Road. The posted speed limit is 40 mph.
As the officer pulled Nicoloff over for a second time, Nicoloff hit the curb, the report said. Nicoloff told the officer he ''had to run to the store.'' The officer still smelled the alcohol on him and asked him to complete more field sobriety tests.
Nicoloff took several new field sobriety tests; however, he did not pass. He refused a Breathalyzer again and he was charged with DUI and driving under OVI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated) suspension, and he was cited for speeding, a stop sign violation and expired license plates. The officer then gave Nicoloff another courtesy ride home.
Capt. Jim Drozdowski, director of corrections at the Lorain County Jail, said they primarily accept people who commit felonies, domestic violence or an act of violence because of the overcrowding. Drozdowski said people who are driven home after being stopped for a DUI don't feel the effects until they sober up. However, those who are thrown in jail feel the impact of their decisions much quicker.
''Does it have less of an effect when an officer drives them home -- sure,'' Drozdowski said. ''It has less of an impact absolutely.''
Other cities typically hold DUI suspects in a holding cell until they sober up or attempt to post bail and find a ride home, Drozdowski said. The city of Lorain currently does not have any holding cells. Once a person is convicted of a DUI and has a jail sentence to serve, they are taken to Lorain County Jail.
Lorain Municipal Court Judge Mark Mihok said he has never seen a case in which a single person got two DUIs in one night. He could not comment on Nicoloff's possible sentence because he only saw his charges and did not research his history yet. Nicoloff has secured an attorney and his pre-trial date has been set for April 25 at 2 p.m.
The municipal court has instituted SCRAM -- Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring -- an electronic ankle bracelet that detects alcohol in a person's system, Mihok said. The results of the system are reported once a day to a probation officer.
Mihok said the bracelet would be a condition of bond for people who are required not to drink until the case is settled.
''It won't make anyone not drink or not drink and drive, but at least they'll know if they take a drink we'll know about it,'' Mihok said. ''Hopefully it will be enough of a deterrent. It's a better tool than we have now. ''
The bracelet does not replace a mandatory jail sentence, Mihok said. Several other courts have instituted SCAM as a condition of bond and it has been successful, Mihok said.
He said Nicoloff could be a candidate for SCRAM.
In 2005, Lorain police made 175 OVI arrests, according to Lorain police Capt. Russ Cambarare. Since January, the officers have made 127 OVI arrests.
''We have stepped up enforcement in this area to target impaired drivers,'' Cambarare said. ''We have one officer on every night shift looking specifically for impaired drivers.''
He was stopped at 10:41 p.m. at West 21st Street and Oakdale Avenue by a Lorain police officer who saw Nicoloff run a red light and fail to use a turn signal. Nicoloff also narrowly avoided being struck by a vehicle while trying to turn from Broadway to West 21st, according to a report.
After detecting a strong odor of ''intoxicating beverage'' the officer had Nicoloff perform several field sobriety tests, according to the report.
The officer reported the man's eyes were glassy and bloodshot and his speech was slurred and slow. Nicoloff told police he did not have any alcoholic beverages that night.
Nicoloff did not submit to a Breathalyzer test and was given a courtesy ride to his home, the report said. He was charged with driving under the influence and cited for a red light violation and failure to signal a turn. Police also discovered Nicoloff's license is currently under suspension for a drunken-driving conviction on March 16, according to court documents.
But that wasn't the last the officer saw of Nicoloff that night.
The same officer later saw him driving a 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, another report said. Nicoloff was clocked by the officer driving 62 mph on Leavitt Road. The posted speed limit is 40 mph.
As the officer pulled Nicoloff over for a second time, Nicoloff hit the curb, the report said. Nicoloff told the officer he ''had to run to the store.'' The officer still smelled the alcohol on him and asked him to complete more field sobriety tests.
Nicoloff took several new field sobriety tests; however, he did not pass. He refused a Breathalyzer again and he was charged with DUI and driving under OVI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated) suspension, and he was cited for speeding, a stop sign violation and expired license plates. The officer then gave Nicoloff another courtesy ride home.
Capt. Jim Drozdowski, director of corrections at the Lorain County Jail, said they primarily accept people who commit felonies, domestic violence or an act of violence because of the overcrowding. Drozdowski said people who are driven home after being stopped for a DUI don't feel the effects until they sober up. However, those who are thrown in jail feel the impact of their decisions much quicker.
''Does it have less of an effect when an officer drives them home -- sure,'' Drozdowski said. ''It has less of an impact absolutely.''
Other cities typically hold DUI suspects in a holding cell until they sober up or attempt to post bail and find a ride home, Drozdowski said. The city of Lorain currently does not have any holding cells. Once a person is convicted of a DUI and has a jail sentence to serve, they are taken to Lorain County Jail.
Lorain Municipal Court Judge Mark Mihok said he has never seen a case in which a single person got two DUIs in one night. He could not comment on Nicoloff's possible sentence because he only saw his charges and did not research his history yet. Nicoloff has secured an attorney and his pre-trial date has been set for April 25 at 2 p.m.
The municipal court has instituted SCRAM -- Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring -- an electronic ankle bracelet that detects alcohol in a person's system, Mihok said. The results of the system are reported once a day to a probation officer.
Mihok said the bracelet would be a condition of bond for people who are required not to drink until the case is settled.
''It won't make anyone not drink or not drink and drive, but at least they'll know if they take a drink we'll know about it,'' Mihok said. ''Hopefully it will be enough of a deterrent. It's a better tool than we have now. ''
The bracelet does not replace a mandatory jail sentence, Mihok said. Several other courts have instituted SCAM as a condition of bond and it has been successful, Mihok said.
He said Nicoloff could be a candidate for SCRAM.
In 2005, Lorain police made 175 OVI arrests, according to Lorain police Capt. Russ Cambarare. Since January, the officers have made 127 OVI arrests.
''We have stepped up enforcement in this area to target impaired drivers,'' Cambarare said. ''We have one officer on every night shift looking specifically for impaired drivers.''