Newton Police Department
• Thomas F. Welke, 59, of Benton Harbo, Mich., was charged with operating while under the influence, failure to obey a stop sign and open container at 9:34 p.m. Oct. 6 in the 4400 block of South 22nd Avenue East. According to the Newton Police Department, Jasper County Dispatch advised of a possible intoxicated driver. Jasper County Dispatch told Newton Police that the driver was in a black 2018 Ford F150 and seen throwing beer cans in the trash. Newton Police arrived and observed the vehicle pulling onto S 22nd Ave. E. from Love’s. Newton Police observed the vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign. Newton Police initiated a traffic stop and exited their vehicles and approached the vehicle. Newton Police observed Welke having bloodshot and watery eyes and the smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle. Officers had Welke exit the vehicle and observed Welke being uneasy on his feet as he walked. Newton Police then had Welke take a seat in their patrol car and he admitted to consuming three beers two hours before the traffic stop. Welke agreed to the standard field sobriety test and failed. He provided a sample of his breath for the preliminary breath test and it indicated a BAC greater than 0.08. Welke refused to give a breath sample for the DataMaster. Welke was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Loveratta K. Nani, 24, of Newton was charged with operating while under the influence at 12:45 a.m. Oct. 6 in the 1000 block of East 10th Street North. According to the Newton Police Department, officers responded to a call of a motor vehicle accident. While officers were in route, they were informed the female driver had also called dispatch advising of the accident. When officers arrived they spoke to Nani and while speaking with her, Nani admitted to operating the vehicle and hitting the parked car. Newton Officers could smell the odor of alcohol coming from her and she admitted to drinking wine coolers earlier in the evening. Nani submitted to the field sobriety tests and the preliminary breath test which registered a BAC over 0.08. Newton Police said at 2:35 a.m. Nani submitted to a breath specimen which registered at BAC of .129 and she admitted to driving the vehicle, drinking and took full responsibility for her actions. Nani was cited and released.