Upper Makefield Police Release Details On 8 Recent DUIs

Police in Upper Makefield have released information regarding numerous DUI crashes and arrests that have occurred over the past several months.

Police released the information on eight DUIs that occurred from February to May. In one of those cases, a man had to be extricated from his vehicle after a rollover crash on Taylorsville Road.

Here are the reports:

February 13

Officers from the Upper Makefield responded to the 500 block of Pineville Road for a one-vehicle accident at 10 p.m. Officers found a vehicle that had struck a tree and fence, suffering disabling front end damage. The driver was not on the scene. However, a witness reported taking the driver to a residence. The driver, identified as Manuel Lomas of New Hope., was found nearby at his residence by officers. He displayed signs of impairment and reported someone stole his vehicle. Based upon witness statements and description, pill bottles found on scene at the vehicle, observations of physical impairment, Lomas was arrested for the suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Lomas submitted to a blood test and was arraigned.

February 23

Just before 2:30 a.m., officers from Upper Makefield responded to the area of River Road and Stoneybrook Road for an accident. Officers found one vehicle with heavy front-end damage with contents from the vehicle strewn all over the roadway. The driver, identified as Evan Jones of Newark, Delaware, was confused and disoriented. Based upon the detection of an odor of alcohol coming from Jones, failure of field dexterity tests, and the improper driving that caused the accident, Jones was arrested for the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Jones submitted to a blood test.

March 10

Police responded to the area of Taylorsville Road and Aqueduct Road at 2 p.m. for a one-vehicle rollover accident. On arrival, police found a vehicle that had struck a tree off the northbound lane, causing it to rollover, continue across both lanes and hit a bridge. The car's roof was completely removed, with the vehicle coming to an uncontrolled rest upside down. The Upper Makefield Fire Department responded to extricate the driver from the vehicle. A warrant was obtained for the driver's blood as a result of alcohol being detected on the driver at the time of the accident and who also admitted to consuming alcohol earlier in the day. The driver, Ralph Demech of Washington Crossing, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and related charges.

March 12

Police responded to the area of Taylorsville Road and Aqueduct Road just after midnight for an accident. Officers found that a vehicle had struck two mailboxes before coming to rest in a ditch. Officers found the vehicle unoccupied. While on scene, a man approached officers identifying himself as the driver. The driver, Evan Ross of Fairless Hills, displayed physical signs of impairment and admitted to consuming alcohol. Ross consented to roadside field dexterity tests. Based upon the aforementioned observations and the driver's statement, Ross was taken into custody for the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Ross submitted to a blood test.

March 17

An officer observed a vehicle traveling southbound on River Road swerving about the roadway just before 2:30 a.m. The officer stopped the vehicle on Taylorsville Road and made contact with the driver, Victor Miranda of Yardley. The officer detected an odor of alcohol coming from the driver and observed numerous physical signs indicative of alcohol consumption. The driver consented to roadside field dexterity tests and based upon those results, the physical signs observed, and the manner in which the vehicle was operated, Miranda was taken into custody for the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Miranda consented to a blood test.

April 3

An officer on patrol at 10:45 p.m. observed a car with its high beams activated while approaching oncoming traffic. The officer flashed his vehicle's lights in attempt to alert the other driver. The officer followed the vehicle, which was going 70 mph in a 45 mph speed limit zone. The vehicle crosssed over the double yellow lines on three occasions, and continued to high beam oncoming traffic, police said. The officer stopped the vehicle on Taylorsville Road in the area of Mt. Eyre Rd. The driver, Luis Serrano of Philadelphia, displayed physical signs of impairment and had an odor of alcohol emanating from his person. Serrano consented to roadside field dexterity tests. Based upon the totality of observations, Serrano was taken into custody for the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Serrano consented to a blood test.

April 30

Shortly after 10:15 p.m., an officer from the Upper Makefield Township Police Department observed a vehicle traveling southbound on Rt 532 driving within a foot to the rear of another vehicle. The first car pulled over to allow the other vehicle to pass. The officer stopped the tailgating car on Taylorsville Road and identified the driver as Jeffrey Saxton of New Egypt N.J. While speaking with the driver, the officer detected the odor of alcohol and burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. Saxton was requested to perform roadside field dexterity tests in which he consented. As a result of physical signs of impairment observed,, the roadside testing results, and odor of alcohol and marijuana detected, Saxton was taken into custody for the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Saxton refused a blood test.

May 26

At 2:15 a.m., a police officer pulled over a car that had its high beams activated behind another car, and failed to use a turn signal at Hall Road. The officer stopped the car on Taylorsville Road. The driver, identified as Jonathan Haldis of Richboro, smelled of alcohol and displayed physical symptoms indicative of alcohol consumption were observed. Haldis performed field dexterity tests, and the officer determined he was incapable of safely driving due to alcohol consumption. Haldis was arrested for the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Haldis consented to a blood test.