On Sunday, July 26th at approximately 12:24 A.M. Sergeant Laffoon with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department was working DUI Task Force on U.S. 31 near Plymouth. During that time a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle with a suspected impaired driver who had been observed committing several traffic infractions including speeding. After field sobriety testing and a failed portable breath test, probable cause was found to arrest 41 year old, Brandine L. Brown of Niles. During the traffic stop Officer Laffoon located a small amount of marijuana and several open containers of alcohol. Upon being transported to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Brown refused to submit to a certified chemical test. He was held on the charges of Possession of Marijuana and Operating a Vehicle with a BAC of .08% or more with bond set at $1,505.
Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.
