By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Ryker David Fritzel

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was recently arrested for fleeing from officers and driving under the influence.

Ryker David Fritzel, 21, 625 S. Columbia St., Warsaw, is charged with resisting law enforcement and operating a vehicle while intoxicated – enhancement, both level 6 felonies; operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class A misdemeanor; and failure to stop after an accident, a class B misdemeanor.

On July 22, a Warsaw Police officer noticed a speeding vehicle disregard a stop sign. When the officer attempted to pull the vehicle over, its driver continued speeding and disregarded a second stop sign. The vehicle then abruptly turned into a driveway. A Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy then arrived at the scene to assist.

According to court documents, the driver was identified as Fritzel, who smelled like alcohol. He told officers he had been at a bar and was on his way to a bar in Syracuse. At one point, while traveling near Madison Elementary School, Fritzel lost control of his vehicle and drove into a cornfield.

A passenger in Fritzel’s vehicle said he and Fritzel drank at several locations.

Fritzel failed two sobriety tests and a portable breath test showed Fritzel had a 0.21% BrAC.

Fritzel has a prior conviction for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Kosciusko County.

Fritzel has already been arrested and released on his own recognizance.