Staff Report

Dustin Lee Heldenbrand

WARSAW — A Columbia City man was recently arrested for allegedly driving under the influence while in Kosciusko County.

Dustin Lee Heldenbrand, 42, 118 E. Van Buren St., Columbia City, is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class C misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated with an enhancement, a level 6 felony.

On Feb. 1, an Indiana State Police trooper received a report about an intoxicated driver. The reporting person said he saw an open beer in the driver’s lap while speaking with him.

According to court documents, the trooper located the suspect vehicle and saw its driver, later identified as Heldenbrand, disregard a stop sign. The trooper pulled Heldenbrand over and noticed he was exhibiting physical signs of intoxication.

Heldenbrand failed three field sobriety tests and had a 0.2 BrAC.

Heldenbrand has a prior conviction for OWI from September 2020.

Heldenbrand has already been arrested and released on bond. He has an initial hearing at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, in Kosciusko Superior Court Three.