Speed ends in DWI arrest
On March 27 at approximately midnight, Sparta Police Officer Thomas Herd observed a vehicle travelling at 57 mph in a 40 mph zone on Woodport Road. He turned around and followed the vehicle, which turned left onto Pinecone Lane and left onto Stanhope Road. Officer Herd activated his lights and attempted to stop the vehicle on Stanhope Road. The vehicle did not stop and turned right onto Green Apple Road before finally pulling over. Herd approached the vehicle to speak with the driver, Matthew Francisco, 36, of Sparta and immediately detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the interior of the vehicle. Herd asked Francisco to step out of his vehicle to perform field sobriety tests. Upon completion of the tests, Francisco was placed under arrest and transported to Sparta Police headquarters for processing. Upon completion of breath testing, Francisco was charged with: Driving While Intoxicated, Careless Driving, Failure to Keep Right, and Failure to Stop for an Emergency Vehicle. He was advised of a mandatory court appearance and released to a sober adult.